A woman from Wilmslow has been prosecuted for fraudulently claiming benefits.
Sophie Giles, of Peckforton Walk, admitted fraudulently obtaining £6,636 in housing benefit and Council Tax benefit. She claimed she was living alone and on a low income.
However, investigations by Cheshire East Council found Giles was living with her partner, who was supporting her financially.
Giles, 26, was sentenced to a 12-month community order and ordered to do 130 hours' unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay court costs of £575 and a £60 victim surcharge.
The prosecution was brought by Cheshire East Council's legal team and heard at South and East Cheshire Magistrates' Court, sitting at Crewe, on Monday, May 11th.
Steph Cordon, head of communities at Cheshire East Council, said: "Benefit fraud will simply not be tolerated by this authority.
"Cheshire East is an enforcing Council and our investigations team works hard to track down offenders to protect our communities from those who abuse the rules at the expense of taxpayers."
If you think someone is committing benefit fraud, you can ring the confidential freephone fraud hotline on 0800 389 2787. You don't have to give your name and your call will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Alternatively, you can report suspected fraud via the Council's website.
