A law student who failed to declare she was receiving student loans while claiming benefits has been forced to pay back over £15,000.

Debbie Callum, 52, of Stewart Road in Leyton, was forced to pay back the money and fined £570 at Thames Magistrates’ Court.

She pleaded guilty to knowingly failing to give prompt notification to the council and the Department of Work and Pensions in relation to her income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit claims.

As a result she was overpaid £15,310.26 worth of benefits she was not entitled to between September 25 2010 and February 1 2013.