'It was pure greed': Fraudster bought a house and hid £140,000 inheritance from authorities in order to claim income support, housing and council tax benefits

Wendy Brown bought a house during the four-year deception in which she illegally claimed £13,679.

Leeds Crown Court heard Brown, 65, began claimed benefits because she was too ill work.

Allan Armbrister, prosecuting, said Brown's offending began in May 2015 when she failed to notify authorities of a substantial change in her circumstances.

She received two "major payments" of £134,940 and £10,981 into her bank account which had been left to her following a death.

The prosecutor said: "It appears that this was from a partnership which had not been disclosed.

"When she received this money she did not inform the authorities of the inheritance."

Brown was interviewed when the offending came to light and claimed that the money had been left to her by her "best friend".

The defendant said the inheritance was to be used to buy her daughter a house but the money was put through her own bank account.

Brown, of Holgate Crescent, Hemsworth, went on to the admit that she lived with her daughter and son-in-law but denied acting dishonestly.

She pleaded guilty to three counts of dishonestly obtaining benefit by failing to notify a change in circumstances.

Probation officer Mick Berry said Brown displayed a lack of understanding and continued to deny the offending during interview.

Describing the offending, Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said: "It was pure greed."

Judge Marson gave Brown a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, but warned her that she would be made the subject of a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) to recover the illegally claimed money.

He said: "The public are going to get their money back from you, you can be assured of that."

Brown was told she must return to the court in May for her first POCA hearing.