THREE people who were wrongly claiming benefits appeared before magistrates.

Cheryl Lloyd, 29, of Bradley Thursfield Court in Kidderminster, pleaded guilty at the town's magistrates court to dishonestly making false representations, with a view to obtaining benefit.

The court heard she failed to declare she was working as a cleaner. As a result, she was overpaid £11,430 in benefits. Between January, 2002 and June, 2004, she was paid £5,519 in income support and between February, 2002 and May, 2004, £4,965 in housing benefit and £946 in council tax benefit she was not entitled to.

Magistrates sentenced Lloyd to a 240 hours community punishment order - the maximum allowed by the court - and ordered her to pay £75 towards costs.

In a separate case, magistrates gave Keith Pollard, 38, of Lichfield Street in Stourport a financial penalty of £500 and ordered him to pay £290 in costs for failing to notify Wyre Forest District Council about a change in his circumstances.

He pleaded guilty to the offence. Nicola Cummings, prosecuting for the council, told the court that Pollard's wife had found a job and knowing that this would affect his entitlement to money, he had failed to give the authority prompt notice.

Between May, 2004 and January, 2005 he was overpaid more than £4,000 pounds in benefits - £3,416 in housing benefit and £601 in council tax benefit.

Linda Edwards, 56, of Hermitage Way, Stourport, also appeared before magistrates. She pleaded guilty to failing to notify the council about a change in her circumstances.

The court heard Edwards started receiving working tax credit and her earnings had increased. She knew this affected her entitlement to benefits but failed to notify the authority promptly.

She was overpaid more than £1,000 in benefits. The court gave Edwards a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered her to pay £150 towards costs.

All defendants also have to pay back the monies falsely claimed.