A fraudster who cheated the benefit system with her mother has been given a suspended sentence despite being branded a liar by a judge.

Susan Wilson, 49, had protested her innocence throughout, but was sentenced for 16 months, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

She illegally pocketed almost £60,000 in handouts.

Wilson had been legitimately claiming housing benefits, but in 2008 her mother transferred ownership of her Woodford Green home over to her daughter, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

She carried on pocketing both housing and council tax benefit for three years rather than disclosing to Redbridge council and the Department of Work and Pensions she was now a property owner.

The scam meant her mother could also claim benefits because the house was held solely in Wilson's name.

Michael Conning, defending, said Wilson was thinking of either selling or mortgaging the house to pay back some of the £58,449 she falsely claimed.

He added that she had already started paying some of it back, and had so far made a payment of £1,500.

He also said Wilson, who still lives at the property at Cross Road, Woodford Green, should not be sent to jail because she looks after her youngest son who has ADHD.

Judge Joanna Korner, QC, said: “I take the view from the facts that this was a deliberate ploy by Wilson and her mother to transfer the property into her name so her mother could get the benefit and allow her to stay in the home.

“I think it was a deliberate, well planned and well thought out deception.

“I had the benefit of listening to you give evidence at trial, you contested the matter throughout, you lied consistently to the jury about what had happened. 

“Your offence is an extremely serious one, I accept that you were pressured by greed and possibly by your mother's desire to keep her home in tact to pursue this course of conduct, and it was a lengthy course of conduct.”