A benefit cheat who worked for Barnet Council has avoided jail after she admitted using more than £1,500 of taxpayers' money to pay her own rent.

Fraudster Tilly Muwonge, 33, of Marble Drive, Cricklewood, was handed a suspended sentence at Hendon Magistrates Court on Friday after she pleaded guilty to using housing benefits to clear a debt with her landlords.

Muwonge, who was employed by the council to assess benefit claims, used the name Tilly Kamara to pay £1,596.96 of benefits into her housing association account.

She made the payment on January 31 this year and the fraud was exposed by her bosses days later.

They informed police, who arrested Muwonge at the council offices where she worked on February 5.

After pleading guilty at Hendon Magistrates Court on Friday, she was sentenced to 24 weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay back the money at a rate of £50 each month.

She will only have to serve the prison term if she commits another offence during that time.

Councillor Richard Cornelius, cabinet member for policy and performance, said: "The conviction of Tilly Muwonge is yet another success for our Corporate Anti-Fraud team and sends a clear message to everyone that regardless of your position, if you choose to steal from the taxpayer you will be caught.

"The council will always seek to prosecute fraudsters."