A BENEFITS cheat from Westcliff has been fitted with an electronic tag.

Joanna Needs, 28, of Fairview Drive, was caught working while dishonestly claiming benefit.

She admitted seven counts of making dishonest statements to obtain Housing and Council Tax benefit between 2008 and 2011 when she appeared before magistrates in Southend on April 18.

She was given a six-month suspended sentence, ordered to wear an electronic tag to ensure she complies with a 6pm to 6am curfew order.

She must also pay £100 costs, as well as repaying the wrongly claimed cash.

The court heard Needs began claiming Housing and Council Tax Benefit from Southend Council in August 2008, saying she and her partner were not working and were in financial difficulties.

However, it was later revealed that she was receiving an income from KPMG Ltd.

Checks established that she had been employed by the company from 2001 to 2011 with a monthly salary paid straight into her bank account.

By failing to declare this extra income Needs received £11,786.01p of Housing Benefit and £1,345.53p of Council Tax Benefit to which she was not entitled.