A BENEFITS cheat was paid more than £15,000 in disability allowances she was not entitled to, after failing to tell the authorities her health had improved, a court heard.

Karen Ambler, 55, was entitled to Disability Living Allowance because of rheumatoid arthritis in her feet and pain in her lower limbs, Bradford Crown Court was told yesterday.

But prosecutor Camille Morland told Judge Peter Benson that Ambler continued to claim the allowance after she became well enough to work six days a week as a cleaner.

Miss Morland said Ambler, of Burton Street, West Bowling, Bradford, claimed, and was entitled to, DLA between February 2005 and April last year, at a time when she had mobility difficulties.

She said that every year the defendant was sent a form, asking her to confirm her physical condition was the same, and every year she returned the form to say that was the position.

But Miss Morland said that from 2008 Ambler became well enough to work, and was working four and three-quarter hours a day six days a week for a cleaning company.

Between March 2008 and April 2010 she was overpaid £15,142.

She was interviewed in December 2013 and accepted she had improved and should have told the authorities, but did not.

The court heard Ambler was not physically well but was in work. A medical letter was produced on her behalf from a consultant rheumatologist.

Judge Benson said she was holding down a cleaning job despite her "obvious and genuine difficulties".

Ambler, who was of previous good character, pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to failing to notify a change in her circumstances and making a false representation.

The judge told her: "I am minded to deal with you by way of some form of community punishment, given the very large amount of money you have taken out of the public purse which you were not entitled to."

He adjourned sentencing for a probation report, focusing on the practicality of her doing unpaid work.

Ambler, whose greying blonde hair was tied up on top, and who was dressed in a black and white patterned top, black trousers and black hooded coat, appeared to have some difficulty walking in and out of the courtroom.

She appeared upset during the proceedings.

Judge Benson told her: "While it's obvious you have medical problems, you are still holding down a job."

He said he needed more information about her medical condition.

He granted her unconditional bail but warned if she breached her bail she would be locked up.