A woman who fraudulently claimed benefits for more than five years has been handed a suspended sentence.

Lucinder Oxley-Martin, 49, of The Broadway, Loughton, dishonestly claimed income support from December 19, 2005, until February 18, 2011.

Chelmsford magistrates yesterday sentenced her to five weeks in prison, suspended for six months, as well as a six-month supervision order and a four-week curfew.