A council tenant who failed to declare she had moved from Barnet to run a pub in Essex has pleaded guilty to wrongly claiming more than £1,600 in benefits.

Donna Stinson, 44, formerly of Gloucester Grove, Edgware, pleaded guilty to charges of dishonestly failing to tell Barnet Borough Council she was not living in the borough and that her circumstances had changed at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on March 31.

She was given an eight-week curfew order and ordered to pay £1,170 towards costs and a victim surcharge of £60.

Stinson kept the tenancy to the two-bedroom council home in Edgware she had lived in since 1995, and failed to inform Barnet Council that she was moving to Clacton-on-Sea to take over a pub in August 2013.

Officers from the council’s corporate anti-fraud team began an investigation in September 2014 after receiving a tip-off.

As recently as March 2014, Stinson had declared on a housing and council tax benefit claim form that her circumstances had not changed.

Fraud investigators quickly established that Stinson was living in Essex and not in her council property.

During an interview, Stinson admitted that she was living in the pub and that she had only stayed in the council home on a few occasions since Christmas 2013.

She also admitted that her daughter was living in the property and was paying the utility bills and rent to her.

The court heard that as a result of not declaring the change in her circumstances, Stinson claimed more than £1,600 in housing benefit that she was not entitled to.

Stinson has since returned the keys to the property, which has been re-let to a family.

Barnet Council’s acting assurance director Clair Green said: “It is incredibly important that people inform the council of any changes in circumstances which affect them claiming benefits or continuing to live in a council home – such as this case.

“The council has a dedicated fraud team that ensure that people who don’t will be subject to an investigation and if fraudulent intent or activity is proven, could ultimately find themselves being prosecuted and brought before the courts.

“We will also ensure to the best of our ability that any funds or property gained through fraudulent activity are recovered and this case is a good example of such an instance.”

To report a fraud, call the hotline on 020 8359 2007.