An Ipswich benefit cheat has admitted fiddling the taxpayer out of tens of thousands of pounds.

Mwantime Mdami, of Romney Road, pleaded guilty to four charges when she appeared for a plea and case management hearing at Ipswich Crown Court.

Although the precise figure Mdami is said to have illegally claimed is still being finalised it is understood it is likely to be in the region of £60,000.

The 40-year-old’s case was adjourned by Judge John Devaux for a full pre-sentence report to be compiled by the probation service.

Judge Devaux told Mdami all sentencing options remain open.

She is due to be sentenced sometime during, or after, week commencing September 16. Mdami was released on conditional bail until her next hearing.

She admitted failing to notify the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) of a change of circumstances when in receipt of income support.

The offence took place between November 14, 2003, and January 6, 2011. Mdami had failed to tell the DWP when making her claim that her partner had moved in with her.

She has also pleaded guilty making a false representation on or about August 10, 2004, relating to an income support claim which stated she did not have a partner living with her.

The two other accusations Mdami admitted related to making a false statement or representation to obtain housing benefit and council tax from Ipswich Borough Council. One of these took place between July 3, 2008 and January 6, 2011. The other was said to have occurred on July 3, 2008.

Prior to the first hearing of her case in May before Ipswich magistrates, Mdami had originally been due to face two allegations in a prosecution brought by borough council fraud investigators.

However, when the matters were put to Mdami as she stood in the dock four charges were read out.

At the time Michael Stephenson, representing Mdami, said his client was originally from Burundi in Africa, and had been in the UK for some time.