TWO benefit cheats have been ordered to pay back more than £5,000 in council tax owed to Warrington Borough Council.

Clare McKendrick, formerly of Lathom Avenue in Orford, and Ann Dorothy Price, from Fairfield, both pleaded guilty to two separate offences of claiming benefits they were not entitled to at Warrington Magistrates' Court on June 6.

Thirty-nine-year-old Kendrick, who now lives at Gaskell Street in St Helens, failed to notify the council of a change in circumstances that she knew would affect her council tax support and single person discount as she was living with her partner.

She fraudulently claimed £1,000.87 in council tax support and £300.60 in single person discount.

Forty-six-year-old Price dishonestly failed to disclose her own and her partner's self-employed earnings which she know would affect her entitlement to council tax support, claiming £3,724.58.

The court sentenced Kendrick to a 12-month community order with a 60 hour unpaid work requirement, £100 costs and a victim surcharge of £85.

Price, of Fairfield Street, was also handed a 12-month community order with a 60 hour unpaid work requirement, an £85 victim surcharge and £100 costs.

Both women will also have to repay the full amounts claimed.

Cllr Russ Bowden, executive board member for corporate finance, said: “We are committed to helping vulnerable people in Warrington and Council Tax Support is one of the ways we try to lighten the load for residents who may be struggling financially. To see this system abused is appalling and we are determined to prosecute anyone who defrauds a system designed to help those in genuine need.”