A council has welcomed a court's decision to sentence a woman and her solicitor to imprisonment following a £62,000 fraud.

Sarah Jane Foster pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud and deception earlier this year after a council investigation showed she was actually living and working in New Zealand while exercising the Right to Buy on a council flat at Tillingham Court, Waltham Abbey. 

It was discovered that she had received a discount of £62,500 on the purchase price.

Fraud investigation officers at Epping Forest District Council, Chelmsford Borough Council and the New Zealand High Commission investigated the case following an anonymous tip off.

Officers established that by the time of the sale, Ms Foster had permanent residency abroad through marriage to a New Zealander. 

Her solicitor, Katherine Gadsby was sentenced to 12 months in prison on three counts of fraud, forgery and concealing evidence after pleading guilty to deliberate deception, forging Ms Foster’s signature on legal documents and failing to provide the whole conveyancing file to the council in accordance with an order of the Crown Court.

Foster was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court to 21 months suspended for two years and ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work.

In addition to the sentences, Foster must repay the full value of the £62,500 discount plus the increase in value of the flat between the time of the sale and the prosecution of the case together with legal costs.

She will return to court in December for the Proceeds of Crime Act hearing dealing with confiscation and compensation details. 

Leader of Epping Forest District Council Councillor Chris Whitbread said: “I would like to thank the Judge as well as congratulate everyone working for and on behalf of the Council in bringing this case.

"The Right to Buy is designed to help law-abiding Council tenants fulfil the dream of owning their own home.

"Those who seek to deceive the Council for financial gain will be investigated and prosecuted.

"Today’s sentence sends out a clear warning to any would-be fraudsters, if you think you can make money through deception, we will find you and we will bring the full weight of the law against you."