A 'BRAZEN’ benefits cheat has been ordered to pay back more than £53,000 after her 'disgraceful’ actions.

Sarah Darby, of Eltham Avenue, Slough, was ordered to repay the £53,601.11 she falsely claimed from Slough Borough Council at a confiscation hearing at Reading Crown Court on April 9.

Sarah Darby received £49,134.41 in housing and council tax benefits between February 2007, and August 2012. However she failed to declare savings, child maintenance payments and the ownership of a property in Market Weighton, York, for which she was receiving up to £500 per month in rent.

Matthew Chugg, fraud investigations officer for the council, said: “It’s rare that we come across anyone quite as brazen as Darby was - claiming the same benefits usually reserved for people who need help to keep a roof over their heads, while at the same time owning her own home and generating income from it.

“It’s only right that she should face the consequences of her disgraceful actions.” The 48-year-old, was given a ten-month jail term, suspended for two years, at Reading Crown Court on October 1, 2013, after pleading guilty to fraud at an earlier hearing. She was also given a 12-month supervision order and told she must do 180 hours of community payback work.

Cllr Sohail Munawar, commissioner for social and economic inclusion, added: “Let this be a stark warning to others thinking of abusing the benefits system that we simply will not tolerate it. Not only do you face the full force of the law, but you could end up having to pay all the money back – it’s simply not worth it.” If Darby does not pay the full amount back, which was adjusted for inflation, within six months she could go to prison for 18 months.

Slough Borough Council was also awarded an additional £7,500 in prosecution costs, which Darby has been given three months to pay.