A woman who used a fake passport to claim more than £57,000 in housing and council benefits has been spared jail.

Sabrina Thompson, 30, previously of Alexandra Road, Addiscombe claimed £57,490.80 in benefits over a five-year period from 2008.

Croydon Crown Court heard that in 2002 Thompson, from Jamaica, came to the UK on a six-month visitor permit.

Her permit was extended to October 2004, in order that she could attend college but she remained in Britain after her permit expired with no means of legally claiming benefits.

In March 2008 Thompson made an application for housing and council tax benefits using a British passport.

She was investigated by the council’s anti-fraud team after an anonymous tip-off and her passport was found to be fraudulent.

She was also found to be working for McDonald’s without Home Office permission.

Thompson was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for 12 months, ordered to carry out 120 of unpaid work and pay £500 in court costs at Croydon Crown Court on June 15.

She had previously pleaded guilty to fraud and using a fake passport.