A CHADWELL St Mary woman was handed a 12 month supervision order after she admitted benefit fraud in excess of £9000 on Monday.

Elizabeth Ogunoshun, 28, of Scott Road, appeared at Southend Crown Court for sentence where she was warned that if she offended again she would be jailed.

Ogunoshun had earlier pleaded guilty to 16 counts of benefit fraud against Thurrock Council and the Department for Work and Pensions, which netted her more than £9,000.

In addition to the supervision order she must also complete 250 hours of unpaid community work.

Over a two year period Ogunoshun dishonestly claimed benefit by failing to declare that she was married and the house she lived in was owned by her husband.

The court heard she originally denied any wrongdoing, stating that the landlord lived in Nigeria.

She also failed to declare a number of jobs she had while claiming unemployment benefit and incapacity benefit.

Ogunoshun was already on a suspended sentence for a previous offence, but the court heard that she had a 19-month-old son and had given birth to another child four weeks ago.

Passing sentence, the judge, His Honour Judge Saggerson said: “For years you have flouted the authorities. If you offend again, in any shape or form, you will go to prison for a very long time – years, not months.”