A WOMAN who was reported to a fraud hotline has been ordered to do community work after she admitted cheating benefits.

At Banbury Magistrates’ Court Lorraine Kirk, of Heyford Leys, Upper Heyford, near Bicester, admitted making false benefits claims between 1998 and 2010.

The 43-year-old claimed single person’s discount on her council tax bill worth a total of £2,264.09 when she was living with her partner.

She was also overpaid £1,439 in housing benefit and £341.84 in council tax benefit between March and August 2003 which she was not entitled to.

The case came to light after someone contacted Cherwell District Council’s confidential fraud hotline and reported Kirk had been living with her partner.

Magistrates ordered Kirk to carry out 60 hours of community work and pay £300 court costs.

Ken Atack, the council’s lead member for financial management, said: “To anyone out there who is making fraudulent benefit claims, my message is we will catch up with you eventually.”

Kirk has since repaid the money.