A Monmouth woman who dishonestly claimed over £42,000 in benefits has been ordered to repay £1,635.

The order was made at Cardiff Crown Court this week under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

It was directed that 66-year-old Patricia Matthews pay the sum within 28 days; in default she will go to prison for 28 days.

Matthews of Clawdd Du, Overmonnow, had appeared at Crown Court in August and admitted five charges of making false representations to obtain benefits and one of obtaining the exemption of a liability.

Judge Christopher Morton sentenced her to six months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, made her subject to a supervision order for 12 months and directed that she carry out 150 hours unpaid work for the community.

Prosecutor Simon Hughes said that in over a 10 year period, Matthews had unlawfully received overpayment of benefits totalling £42,457.

She had received payments for income support, pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

He said that her circumstances at the time were such that she was not allowed the amount.

She was arrested in 2007 and admitted what she had done.

Her Counsel Leighton Hughes said her character had been tarnished by the case but she had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.