Pay £25,000 or go to jail, cheat told

A widow falsely claimed £38,000 in benefits over almost seven years, Manchester Crown Court has been told.

Sayarun Nessa (58) claimed income support, housing benefit and council-tax benefit on the ground she was a lone parent and sole carer for her son when she had two bank accounts holding £28,000.

Nessa, of Main Road, Oldham, pleaded guilty to benefit fraud in June. She was given an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for a year.

This week a proceeds of crime hearing was told Ness had already repaid some of the money and ordered her to repay another £25,455. She has been given six months to pay or will face up to 15 months in prison.








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