A former pub landlady has pleaded guilty to four charges of benefit fraud.

Tammy Noakes, previously of Randhall Hill Road in Wrotham, failed to notify Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council that she was managing the Black Horse and Hoodens pub in Borough Green with her partner.

She had been overpaid £3,651 in housing benefit, £2,243 income support and £3,583 disability living allowance.

She also failed to tell the Department for Work and Pensions that her son no longer lived with her even though she was still claiming carers allowance for him, which led to a further £1,792 being overpaid.

She received a total of £11,271 to which she was not entitled and will have to repay all the money she fraudulently claimed as well as £85 costs.

Following a hearing at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court on Friday she was given a community order for 12 months with a women's group programme.

Sharon Shelton, director of finance and transformation at Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, said: “There really is no excuse for benefit fraud, and in this case it related not only to money claimed from the Borough Council but also to an allowance from the Department for Work & Pensions.

"Our investigation team will continue to follow up every lead to ensure that people who defraud the Council are caught and brought to justice.”

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