A BENEFIT fraudster who illegally claimed nearly £30,000 has been handed a suspended jail sentence.

Jackie Isbell, of Exeter Road, Enfield, received income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit despite working as a courier and her partner Mark Jenkins working as a security guard.

After an anonymous tip-off, investigators from Enfield Council and the Department for Work and Pensions prosecuted Isbell.

The 42-year-old pleaded guilty to three counts of dishonestly allowing Mr Jenkins to fail to promptly notify the council of a change in circumstances, and was sentenced to 15 weeks in prison – suspended for one year – at Haringey Magistrates' Court on May 4.

Councillor Andrew Stafford, cabinet member for finance, said he would like to see greater consistency in the sentencing of benefit cheats.

He said: “I understand that all cases have to be treated on their own merits but we had a case only last week when magistrates gave a man community service for fleecing £13,000 from the public purse - £14,000 less than Isbell. That does not seem right.

“I would like to see greater clarification on sentencing guidelines over benefit cases and perhaps the Sentencing Council could shed some light on this.

“We are in the age of austerity and public finances are very tight and it’s even more crucial we have a tough line on benefit cheats as it’s unfair on genuine claimants in real need and hard-working taxpayers.”