A Westbury woman was ordered to pay back more than £6,000 in overpaid council tax benefits, after pleading guilty in court yesterday.

Hazel Shelbourne, 54, of Frogmore Road, was sentenced in Chippenham Magistrates Court when she pleaded guilty to three Social Security Administration Act charges in relation to council tax benefit fraud.

She claimed council tax benefit from Wiltshire Council in respect of the homes she has lived in since July 2004.

When she moved house in May 2006 and November 2007 she completed application forms in respect of the change of address.

Miss Shelbourne was required to declare all income and property, owned or partly owned, but she failed to declare that she was part owner of a home in Castle View, Westbury.

The house belonged to her parents and a land registry document shows that Miss Shelbourne and her two brothers became the owners on June 30, 2000, while their parents were still occupying the property.

Miss Shelbourne told the investigators the property was given to her and her brothers and that she gave her financial share to her daughter.

She continued to be involved with the property and managed the lettings to tenants through an agency after her parents died.

Her benefit was re-assessed to take into account that she owned a second property which had not been declared.

There was a resulting overpayment of £6,458 council tax benefit, which she has to repay to the council. She was also sentenced to a conditional discharge over 18 months and ordered to pay £350 costs.