AN EALING woman has been ordered to pay back £32,000 of housing benefits she claimed fraudulently.

Cecil Godinho, 50, was given a suspended 16-week prison sentence, ordered to pay an additional £200 towards the council’s prosecution costs and must carry out 200 hours of unpaid community work.

She began claiming housing benefits in February 2006 while renting a property in Templeman Road from a private landlord.

In June 2007, the property was bought by the father of her children. However, Godinho continued to claim benefits after failing to declare she was no longer liable to pay rent to her previous landlord.

She had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

Cllr Yvonne Johnson, cabinet member for finance and performance, said: “Benefits are there to support the most vulnerable in society, so it is a disgrace that someone knowingly claims thousands of pounds they aren’t entitled to.

“Miss Godinho is lucky not to have been sent to prison over such a serious matter, and she will now have to pay back what she wrongly claimed. She should be thoroughly ashamed of herself and I hope she will now stay out of trouble.”

Ealing Council’s 24-hour anonymous fraud hotline: 0800 328 6453 or email fraudreferrals@ealing.gov.uk