A BENEFIT cheat who pretended she was a lone parent to falsely claim more than £50,000 has avoided prison.

Julie Drury, of Trentham Drive in Orpington, was given a 12 month community order and a three month curfew after pleading guilty to two counts of benefit fraud at Croydon Crown Court.

During the hearing on October 11, the court heard the 52-year-old had claimed benefits as a lone parent between February 2002 and October last year despite living with her husband.

Drury claimed a total of £28,788 in housing and council tax benefits from Bromley Council, and £23,251 in income support from the Department of Work and Pensions.

Bromley Council was alerted to the fraud after an anonymous tip-off, and is now trying to recover the £28,788 Drury falsely claimed.