A BENEFITS cheat who pocketed more than £33,000 has been ordered to hand back some of her ill-gotten gains.

Joan Watson, 57, started out by lodging legitimate claims for income support, housing benefit and council tax.

But between 2011 and 2014 she collected cash she was not entitled to.

Watson failed to inform the authorities she was living with a man who was contributing to the household.

In August last year, Watson, then of Crakegarth, Dalston, appeared at Carlisle Crown Court and was given a suspended 24-week prison sentence.

She admitted four fraud charges having falsely claimed a total of £33,386.93.

Police then set about clawing some of that money from Watson and at the crown court, an application was made to Judge Barbara Forrester under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Barrister Tim Evans told the hearing Watson’s total agreed benefit from her crime was £34,434.99.

“The original £33,000 was increased by the RPI (retail price index) figure,” said Mr Evans.

Watson’s “realisable” assets were said to amount to £9,389.58 – that being the balance of a building society account.

After hearing these submissions, Judge Barbara Forrester gave the green light for money to be confiscated.

The judge said: “I make the order in that amount, to be paid within 28 days, and a period of six months’ imprisonment in default.”

At a previous court hearing, it emerged Watson failed to inform both the Department for Work and Pensions and Carlisle City Council that her personal circumstances had changed.

Mitigation was provided on that occasion by her defence counsel Greg Hoare.

He told the court Watson had “lost her good name and reputation” and “utterly ashamed” of her behaviour.