A MUM-OF-FOUR has been sentenced to six months in jail after fraudulently claiming more than £50,000 in tax credits.

Colleth Rennicks-Gordon, of Old School Place, Waddon, was sentenced on July 24 after being found guilty of three counts of tax credit fraud totalling £51,156.

Between 2003 and 2007, the 42-year-old submitted false tax credit claims and made telephone calls to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) vastly understating the total annual family income.

In passing sentence at Croydon Crown Court, Judge Nicholas Ainley said: "Mrs Rennicks-Gordon, you are of previous exemplary character but you have swindled the taxpayer of over £51,000 by making completely dishonest representations of the family's income.

"This crime will have to be deterred and the least sentence that I can impose is six months on each of the three counts, which will run concurrently."