A 67-YEAR-OLD woman who continued claiming benefits despite having more than £100,000 in the bank has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Blackburn magistrates heard Hilary Lee told the Department of Work and Pensions she only had savings of £500 during a telephone interview.

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And the fraudulent claim lead to an overpayment of more than £20,000 in housing, council tax and pension benefits.

Lee, of Broadfield, Oswaldtwistle, pleaded guilty to two charges of dishonestly making a false statement to obtain benefit.

She was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months, made subject to a curfew between 10pm and 5am for three months and she was also ordered to pay £165 costs.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the claims had been fraudulent from the start in 2009 until May 2014.

“In essence she has failed to declare to the Department of Work and Pensions and Hyndburn Borough Council that she owned a second property,” said Miss Allan.

“She inherited the house in 2008 and sold it for £117,000 in 2012.

“She told officers she only had £500 in savings and has therefore helped herself to £20,254 of tax payers money.”

Deborah Morgan, defending, said her client had no previous convictions and all the money had been repaid.

She said that after inheriting the property Lee still considered it her dad’s house.

“She did nothing with it for ten years and it was always her intention to move back into that house,” said Miss Morgan.

“You are not going to see her before the court again.

“This has been extremely traumatic for her and she is genuinely remorseful.”

n Anyone with concerns about benefit fraud or who wants to report a case can call the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440.