A Gloucester woman who claimed thousands of pounds in benefits – despite owning two homes – walked free from court yesterday.

Mum-of-one Tatjana Akins, 44, cheated the state out of more than £35,000 during six years of making fraudulent claims, Gloucester Crown Court was told.

Sean Brunton, prosecuting, said throughout that time she owned a house in Morpeth Street, Gloucester, and in 2006 she bought a second house in the city's Longford area.

He told the court she had wrongly claimed £16,800 housing benefit, £8,700 Jobseekers' allowance, £6,000 income support and £3,400 council tax benefit.

Akins, of Longford Lane, Gloucester, admitted eight charges dating between 2001 and February 2007.

Recorder Tm Mousley, QC, sentenced her to 12 months in jail, suspended for two years, and ordered her to do 200 hours of unpaid community work.

Mr Brunton told the court that in 2001 Akins claimed to be single and unemployed with one child and no assets or property.

"In fact, at that time, and since 1997, she had owned a property in Morpeth Street, Gloucester, and from September 2006 she also owned another property in Longford Lane.

"On her application forms in 2001 and thereafter on various renewed applications she was asked if she owned any property or significant assets whether mortgaged or not mortgaged and she said 'No'."

Akins had taken out a mortgage on the Morpeth Street property in 1997, he said. It was valued at £80,000 and she had a £55,000 mortgage. In September 2006 she bought her mother's home in Longford Lane for £145,000 and leased out the Morpeth Street house to tenants.

When questioned, she said the Morpeth Street house had been occupied since 2001 by her ex-boyfriend after they split up.

He had been unable to take over the mortgage because of problems with his credit rating and she had continued paying it, she claimed.

Jason Coulter, defending, said: "She has committed, in my submission, an act of omission rather than an act of commission," he said.