A Felixstowe widow with an annual income of £100,000 a year has avoided jail after admitting claiming a council tax discount for eight years.

Caron Craft, of Mill Lane, Felixstowe, claimed nearly £8,000 in reductions from East Suffolk Council from 2013 until 2021.

After admitting dishonestly failing to disclose information to East Suffolk Council to make a gain for herself at an earlier hearing, Croft was sentenced at Suffolk Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Craft was handed 26 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, with 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

The 57-year-old was also ordered to pay £750 in court costs and a victim surcharge of £128.

Magistrates heard how Craft had failed to declare income from her employment and an occupational pension

Investigators found Croft was earning £78,000 a year from her job and was also receiving a £22,000 a year occupation credit, and had not declared either since making her first claim for council tax reduction in May 2013 saying she was on limited income at that time following the death of her husband in 2007.

Magistrates heard that the total amount fraudulently claimed was £7,668.21 over eight years, which has been paid back in full.

Craft, who had no previous convictions, was not represented in court, and told magistrates she was not a criminal or a bad person but had made "a bad judgement".

Magistrates heard how benefit entitlement letters were regularly sent to Craft's home in Felixstowe confirming how it was calculated and how to notify the council of any changes to circumstances, magistrates heard.

In 2019, Craft provided the council with information regarding her son's income so checks were undertaken with HMRC. It was found Craft started working in June 2013 - less than two weeks after the claim was first paid.

In August 2015, Craft got a new job, with earnings of around £4,000 per month, and there was no record of that money being declared.

Due to coronavirus lockdown, an interview under caution letter was sent to Craft in August 2021 rather than a face-to-face interview , and she responded by saying she was aware she should not be receiving the money due to her income.

Magistrates heard, Craft said she did not declare the occupational pension money on the form because she was not asked about it, but two questions on the form gave her the opportunity to declare the money.