A 60-year-old woman has been given a suspended prison sentence for stealing nearly £5,000 while working for the Department of Work and Pensions.
Tina Smith, of Shackleton Road, Ipswich, admitted theft by employee when she appeared before West Suffolk Magistrates Court in Bury St Edmunds.
She was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months after a pre-sentence report was compiled on her.
Smith was also given a 12-month supervision order as part of the sentence and was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
In addition to paying £100 towards prosecution costs, Smith must also pay compensation to the Department of Work and Pensions for the £4,836.70 she stole.
The theft took place on or about June 26 last year in Bury St Edmunds.
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