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Denbighshire County Council has issued a warning that benefit fraud will not be tolerated.

This follows a court case in which Denbighshire's Benefit Fraud Team, working in conjunction with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) were successful in securing a conviction for benefit fraud.

Jennifer Susan Heggie of St Asaph Street, Rhyl was found guilty of two charges of failing to notify DWP of a change of circumstances and failing to notify Denbighshire County Council of the same.

Mrs Heggie had failed to report that she had a partner living with her.  This resulted in an overpayment of  £2,810 in housing benefit, £516 in council tax benefit and income support of £1,553.

The court issued a fine and costs and the overpayment is being actively recovered.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Cabinet Lead Member for Finance, said: "This sends out a clear message that benefit fraud in Denbighshire simply will not be tolerated.

"We will not hesitate in taking a prosecution against any individual that commits this kind of fraud knowingly and defrauding the Council of money allocated to benefits for legitimate claimants".