A BENEFIT cheat claimed more than �80,000 in government handouts over six years. Mother-of-three, Devi Luckhee, 33, received housing benefits for homes in Barking and Dagenham, Romford and Redbridge between 2003 and 2009, despite living outside the UK. Wh

A BENEFIT cheat claimed more than �80,000 in government handouts over six years.

Mother-of-three, Devi Luckhee, 33, received housing benefits for homes in Barking and Dagenham, Romford and Redbridge between 2003 and 2009, despite living outside the UK.

When she was finally arrested, police found several forged tenancy agreements and a diary detailing trips to and from her council house in Paris - where she claimed between �400 and �700 in benefits every month.

In total the scammer swindled �80,750 out of British and French taxpayers - �2,220 of which was defrauded from Barking and Dagenham Council.

Luckhee admitted three counts of dishonestly failing to notify changed circumstances, two of obtaining property by deception, one of dishonestly making false statements or representation, and one of dishonestly producing false documentation.

Graham Brown, defending, told the court that his client regretted the offences and blamed the emotional strain of her tangled personal life.

Luckhee was jailed for 15 months at Basildon Crown Court on Thursday, January 21.