A BENEFIT cheat stole more than £9,000 from the public purse to “line her own pockets”, a court heard.

Pallvika Chauhan, aged 33, must now do unpaid work or face jail.

Worcester Magistrates Court heard Chauhan, of Teme Road, Worcester, had claimed £9,339 more than she was entitled to between September 2004 and February 2006.

The court heard Chauhan had told officials she was a single parent living as a tenant alongside her landlord and maintained that position in subsequent claim forms.

However, Leonie Woodward, prosecuting for Wychavon District Council, which provides legal support for the South Worcestershire shared revenues and benefits service, said a complaint was received in 2007.

Following an investigation, a land registry search revealed she had become a joint owner of the property in September 2004.

Mahmood Khan, defending, said Chauhan, a mother-of-two, had formed a relationship with her landlord.

He said: “As a result of her partner being diagnosed with cancer, a terminal illness at that time, he made an application to transfer the property into joint names in case something happened to him.”

Chauhan admitted failing to notify social services of a change of circumstances and producing a false statement to obtain benefits.

Sentencing her, district judge Bruce Morgan said: “To cheat the public purse out of over £9,000 just to line your own pockets is totally unacceptable. Local authorities have limited means of money and that money should go to the most deserving people in the area.”

However, Mr Morgan also criticised South Worcestershire’s shared revenues and benefits services for not carrying out land registry checks when applications were made.

He said: “Doing it when a neighbour or someone has grassed on them isn’t going to help at all.

“You could have made 270 land registry applications for the amount you’ve lost.”

He gave Chauhan a two-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered her to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.

She must also pay £250 costs but no compensation was ordered after the court heard the council would pursue reimbursement through the civil courts.