A Tonbridge woman has narrowly escaped being sent to prison after committing benefit fraud.

Tracy Daniel, of Lodge Oak Lane, pleaded guilty to four charges of benefit fraud at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court on November, 11.

The 44-year-old claimed housing benefit, council tax benefit and single person discount from Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council between April 2007 and January 2014 but failed to declare the residence and income of her partner.

Mrs Daniel was therefore paid £33,743.30 in benefits and council tax reduction and discounts totalling £2,992.29 that she was not entitled to receive.

She pleaded guilty at her first court appearance and admitted lying during her interview with council investigators.

When sentencing, magistrates advised that they had considered all options and handed down a 120 day custodial sentence, suspended for two years, plus an unpaid work order for 40 hours.

Mrs Daniel will also have to repay all the money fraudulently claimed as well as costs of £407 plus a victim surcharge of £80.

"Our Investigation Team will continue to follow up every lead to ensure that people who defraud the Council are caught and brought to justice" - Cllr Martin Coffin

Magistrates stated the offences were of a very serious nature and would normally have resulted in much more severe sentencing.

However, they took into consideration the fact that Mrs Daniel has two young children to care for and has two jobs.

They also stated that, had it not been for Mrs Daniel’s timely guilty plea, the sentence and hours of unpaid work would have been for much longer periods.

Mrs Daniel was the council's 12 successful prosecution since April, 1 and was also the first successful case for an offence linked to a council tax discount.

Cllr Martin Coffin, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council’s cabinet member for finance, innovation and property, said: “There can be no excuse for benefit fraud; this was a very serious offence particularly as Mrs Daniel claimed Council Tax Single Person Discount and she was lucky not to receive an even more severe sentence.

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

Anyone who suspects that someone they know is fraudulently claiming benefit should contact the Benefit Investigation Section, in confidence, on 01732 876337. Further details can be found on the Council’s website at www.tmbc.gov.uk.