Martina Allen, 26, of Clayton Avenue, fraudulently claimed housing benefit, council tax benefit and income support between September 2006 and March 2008, after failing to tell South Ribble Borough Council that she was living with her husband.

The mother-of-five received £6,255.42 in housing benefit, £1,055.59 in council tax benefit and £4,040.26 in income support – a total of £11,351.27 to which she was not entitled.

Working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) the council's fraud team carried out investigations that led to the prosecution.

Mrs Allen has just appeared at South Ribble Magistrates'Court after she was earlier found guilty in her absence of two offences.

A warrant without bail was issued by magistrates resulting in Mrs Allen being arrested and appearing in court on Wednesday.

Her excuse for not attending her trial was that her five children were unwell.

Mrs Allen was ordered to pay back the money and was handed a two-year conditional discharge.

Coun Michael Green, cabinet member with responsibility for corporate and support services, said:

"We will not stand for fraudsters who steal taxpayer's money. Every penny that is illegally claimed could otherwise have been spent on important public services.

"Our fraud team work hard to find those claiming benefits illegally and bring them to justice. We work hard to protect the money of our law-abiding residents and to make sure it is spent wisely, especially during these tough financial times. "

* If you have information about someone who is claiming benefit that they are not entitled to, please telephone the council's free hotline on: 08000 56 56 03.