A WOMAN who claimed more than �31,000 in benefits to pay rent was in fact pocketing the cash herself. Miriam Alli claimed housing benefit for four years so she could pay rent to her landlady, Miriam Mogaji. But checks revealed Mogaji did not exist. In fa

A WOMAN who claimed more than �31,000 in benefits to pay rent was in fact pocketing the cash herself.

Miriam Alli claimed housing benefit for four years so she could pay rent to her landlady, Miriam Mogaji.

But checks revealed Mogaji did not exist. In fact, Alli owned the house, in Vincent Road, Dagenham and did not pay rent.

The fraudster was also found to be working as a carer for four different companies, which she failed to tell the authorities about. On top of this she owned a second house in Lancashire.

Had these details been known she would have received no benefits.

The first claim was made in March 2004 and continued until April 2008. Overpayment of council tax and housing benefit built up to a massive �31,390.90.

The 51-year-old pleaded guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court on March 26.

The court heard she had fled Nigeria due to family problems and claimed a 'violent and brutal' man forced her to commit the frauds.

The judge ordered her to do 150 hours unpaid community work and pay �28,548.21 in compensation.