A TIMPERLEY benefit cheat who dishonestly claimed more than £10k has been ordered to carryout unpaid work.

Alison Nelson of Hempcroft Road worked for three separate companies while claiming housing and council tax benefit worth £10,775.

She appeared at Trafford Magistrates Court on Friday, June 26.

The 44-year-old pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to a 12 month community order, with a requirement to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £200 towards the cost of the prosecution.

Housing and council tax benefit was based on information Nelson had given to Trafford Council, informing them that she had been self-employed since January 2012.

However, she failed to declare that she had been working for three different companies, resulting in an overpayment of benefit between March 2012 and November 2014.

Trafford Council said they would recover all of the money that was obtained as a result of Nelson’s offence.

Council counter fraud officers were alerted to the matter as a result of information from HMRC, which identified Ms Nelson’s employers and earnings.

Executive councillor for finance, Councillor Patrick Myers, said: “People need to understand they will not get away with claiming more than they are legally entitled to.

“Trafford Council will not tolerate perpetrators of benefit fraud and will prosecute anyone they find making such a claim."

If you suspect anyone of benefit fraud, contact Trafford Council on 0161 9122852 or Freefone number 0800 3286340.