Mildenhall woman pleads guilty to council tax fraud

A Mildenhall woman who fraudulently claimed more than £3,000 of Council Tax support payments has been ordered to complete 60 hours of unpaid work.

Linda Coomber, 47, of Macpherson Robertson Way, pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to declare changes in her circumstances.

Coomber did not inform Forest Heath District Council that both she and her husband had started full time work and had claimed £3,057.19 in Council Tax support payments.

On May 15 she was handed a 12 month community, ordered to complete 60 hours of unpaid work, and pay costs of £575 at Ipswich Magistrates Court.

A council spokesman said: "Money lost to benefit cheats is money that is supposed to be spent on you and on services for others.

"The council takes its responsibility to ensure that payments are only to those who are actually entitled to receive them very seriously.

"If you are aware of anyone cheating the system please help stop this crime by calling our confidential freephone fraud hotline on 0800 515 368."