A HEADLESS Cross pensioner has been fined £200, with £50 costs, by magistrates after pleading guilty to benefit fraud.

Dorothy Hickey failed to report she had received an occupational pension and continued to claim housing benefit of £2,857 and council tax benefit of £411, to which she was not entitled.

The money has since been repaid but, on Wednesday, June 19, magistrates fined her and ordered her to pay prosecution costs.

A Redditch Council spokesman said: "This case shows that fraud will be uncovered and dealt with accordingly.

"Investigations are started following suspicion being aroused by various sources, including our hotline, where information can be left at any time on 534164."