Woman's £3,000 benefits fraud

Laura Baily, of Camperdown Street, claimed housing and council tax benefits, but failed to notify of a change of circumstances when she became self-employed in December 2009, working as hairdresser at a local nursing home. 

She subsequently made a false statement when she failed to declare her work on a new claim form in June 2010.

Baily, 25, pleaded guilty at a hearing at Hastings Magistrates’ Court.

Her actions meant she was paid £2,464 too much housing benefit and almost £314 more than she was entitled to in Council Tax benefit.

She was sentenced to a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 costs.  She will also have to repay the money that she falsely claimed.