Maureen Fletcher, 52, of Felton Drive, Forest Hall, failed to declare that both her and her husband Paul Fletcher, 41, were working for a cleaning company.

Between November 5, 2001, and August 19, 2007, Fletcher received an overpayment of housing benefit of £8,301.66 and council tax benefit of £2,979.65 – a total of £11,281.31.

During this period she submitted false benefit application forms to North Tyneside Council.

After an investigation by the council's counter fraud team, she pleaded guilty to five offences of making false representations to obtain benefits.

At North Tyneside Magistrates' Court she was sentenced to a 12-month community order and is required to carry out 200 hours unpaid work.

The overpaid benefit must also be paid in full.

After the hearing, Coun Ray Glindon, cabinet member with responsibility for revenue and benefits, said: "North Tyneside Council is committed to rooting out benefit fraud.

"Benefit fraud is not a victimless crime as losses must be recovered from public funds.

"We want to deliver a faster, fairer and more efficient service, so it's important the benefits are going to those who genuinely need them."