A woman has been given a suspended jail sentence after she admitted fraudulently claiming more than £32,000 benefits.

Nicola Finch, 31, failed to disclose she was working while claiming the cash for four years.

She was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 180 hours’ unpaid work, when she appeared at Manchester Crown Court.

She had pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtaining housing and council tax benefits, and income support, between April 2005 and March last year.

Finch, of Grangemill Walk, Moston, was caught following an investigation by Manchester council’s fraud squad and officers from the Department for Work and Pensions.

They uncovered the offences using data-matching exercises designed to detect fraudulent and incorrect benefits payments.

Coun Bernard Priest, Manchester council’s executive member for finance, said after the hearing: “This woman has been stealing from the people of Manchester. The message is clear to these people, we will find out and we will prosecute.”

City treasurer Richard Paver said: “The whole community suffers when individuals commit a crime of this nature.

“Not only does it reduce the money available to those with a genuine entitlement, but it also increases the burden on the council tax payer.

“This case demonstrates our determination to ensure that offenders are dealt with using the full force of the law and do not profit from their crime. We shall use all methods at our disposal to vigorously recover the money this woman dishonestly obtained.”