A BENEFIT cheat who dishonestly claimed more than £105,000 over six years has been jailed.

Sirah Saddiq, 39, claimed income support and council tax benefit. She said she was living alone, but lived with her husband who was working for an accident repair company. People whose partners work more than 24 hours a week can't claim income support.

It is understood the couple were in an Islamic marriage that was not registered in Britain.

Saddiq's scam, between September 2001 and August 2007, was exposed when officials spotted a discrepancy. Stockport council and the Department for Works and Pensions launched a joint investigation.

Saddiq, of Wellington Road North, Stockport, pleaded guilty at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, to fraudulently obtaining benefit. She pocketed £97,498.13 in income support and £7,624 in council tax benefit.

She was jailed for four months and will have to pay back every penny.

After the hearing, Roy Paul, from the DWP which prosecuted the case, said: "This case is an excellent example of our success at tackling benefit fraud when we work closely with our colleagues at Stockport council.

"The sentencing illustrates the serious consequences of committing benefit fraud and our skilled teams of investigators will root out anyone who steals money intended for vulnerable members of our society.

"In addition to the sentence imposed by the court, the department will also urgently seek full reimbursement from Ms Saddiq of income support totalling some £97,000 which she fraudulently obtained, to ensure that she does not benefit financially from her criminal activities."

Stockport councillor John Pantall said: "Benefit fraud is a crime and when the council has sufficient evidence it will always look to prosecute. This case and sentence should serve as a warning to people who look to try to cheat the system."