Last updated at 11:42, Monday, 01 October 2012

A woman sentenced to do unpaid community work for benefits fraud has been back in court because no such work can be found for her.

Divorcee Sandra Harrison, 65, was given the punishment at Carlisle Crown Court in May after being found guilty of lying to the authorities about the eight properties she owned so she could claim benefits to which she was not entitled.

Harrison, who at that time was living with friends who run a pub in Alston, was ordered to do 70 hours unpaid community work.

It was known that, because of her physical difficulties, she would have problems doing manual work.

But the judge was led to understand that the probation service would be able to find suitable light work.

Harrison was back at Carlisle Crown Court to hear prosecuting counsel Tim Evans admit that there was no such work in the Alston area.

Judge Paul Batty QC revoked the community work order and put Harrison under a curfew which will keep her at home from 8pm to 6am every night for the next two months.

First published at 11:25, Monday, 01 October 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk