TWO benefit cheats have been prosecuted in a joint effort by Ribble Valley Council and the Department for Work and Pensions.

One of the claimants had received housing and council tax benefit of almost £12,000, as well as almost £28,000 in additional benefits from the government department, neither of which they were entitled to.

That person was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for one year, a 12-month supervision order, and was ordered to repay the money, as well as £300 in legal costs.

The other had falsly claimed housing and council tax benefit of almost £4,000, and received a conditional discharge for 12 months.

A council spokesman said: “Benefit fraud can lead to prosecution, fines, or imprisonment, and, in all cases, claimants will have to repay any money they were not entitled to.”