A woman who fraudulently claimed over £5,500 in council tax support has been sentenced.

Leah Brown, of Reynolds Walk in Bury St Edmunds, appeared at Suffolk Magistrates' Court for sentencing for two fraud offences on Monday. 

At an earlier hearing she admitted failing to notify of a change in circumstances, contrary to the Council Tax Reduction Schemes 2013 and Fraud by false representation, contrary to the Fraud Act 2006.

The court heard Brown had been receiving council tax support and a 25 per cent single person discount since September 2018, having said she was a single parent.

It was later discovered that her partner had been living with her throughout the entire period of her claim.

Her fraud amounted to an overpayment of £5,801.50 in Council Tax Support and Single Person Discount paid out between September 2018 and December 2023.

Monday’s court hearing was told that Brown had set up an arrangement to repay the £5,801.50.

The court sentenced her to a 24-month community order and ordered that she pay £1600 towards the prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £114.