A BENEFITS cheat from Melksham has been given an 18-month conditional discharge for falsely claiming more than £2,200.

Jacqueline Marie Perry, 37, of Sangster Avenue, admitted two charges of making false representations to claim income support, and another of making false representations to claim council tax and housing benefit, at Chippenham magistrates' court last Tuesday.

Perry's offences came to light after officers from West Wiltshire District Council and the Department for Work and Pensions launched a joint investigation.

Perry was also ordered to pay £75 costs and repay £2,221.13.