TWO women from Potters Bar have pleaded guilty to benefit fraud.

Mandy Richardson and Louise Cain were both sentenced at Hemel Hempstead Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Richardson, 46, from Carpenters Way, had admitted two charges of benefit fraud at an earlier hearing, after failing to notify Hertsmere Borough Council that both her tax credit had increased and that she had started working.

As a result, she received �5,511.91 in overpayment.

Richardson was sentenced to a month-long curfew meaning she will have to stay at her address between 8pm and 6am Monday to Friday.

She was also ordered to pay back the overpayment.

Cain, 29, of Forbes Avenue, was ordered to pay back �3,130.92 plus �150 in costs after pleading guilty to three charges of failing to notify the council of a change to her circumstances.

She failed to notify the council that she was working, and that her tax credits had increased.

Cain, who was given credit for her early plea and previous good character, was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge.

Cllr John Graham, finance portfolio holder at Hertsmere Borough Council, said: “We take benefit fraud very seriously and cases like these show that we will investigate where necessary and use all our powers to prosecute and recover the money.”