AN MP's secretary "knew nothing" about her husband's £38,000 benefit fraud according to her boss.

John Baron, Tory MP for Basildon and Billericay, said his constituency secretary Annie Akinin was unaware that her 67-year-old spouse had swindled the benefits by failing to declare he had a job.

Vlad Akinin of Littlebury Green, Basildon claimed incapacity benefit and pension credit despite holding down the job.

But in a statement Mrs Akinin's boss said she was unaware of her husband's con and is in the process of divorcing him.

Mr Baron said: “Annie Akinin has assured me she was not aware of her husband’s fraud, and indeed they are getting divorced.

"Annie knows she has my full support during this difficult time.”

“Mr Vlad Akinin is rightly subject to the legal process – there is no place for benefit cheats in our society.”