A woman who claimed more than £1,500 in housing benefit for a former tenant has become the first "landlord fraud" offender to be successfully prosecuted by Oxford City Council.

Former heroin user Marilyn Hilsdon was sub-letting a room in her rented home in Linnet Close, until June last year, Oxford Magistrates' Court heard. But she continued to cash housing benefit cheques after her tenant moved out, dishonestly obtaining £1,540.

Jeremy Franklin, prosecuting said: "Housing benefit cheques were sent directly to her home address. It was only when post for her tenant in relation to housing benefit was returned that the council's benefit investigation team were able to ascertain she had been dishonestly cashing the cheques.

"When interviewed she admitted cashing the cheques, and co-operated fully with the team's investigations."

Sean Logan, defending Hilsdon, told the court: "This is a 45-year-old woman with no previous convictions, who is of good character."

He said Hilsdon, who pleaded guilty, accepted that the money was fraudulently obtained, and was repaying the full amount.

Mr Logan said: "She was a heroin user, which was a major contributing factor in this offence."

Hilsdon was sentenced to a 100-hour community punishment order, and ordered to pay £250 court costs.

Gwen Jones, the council's senior benefit investigator, said after the case: "This is our first successful prosecution for this type of benefit fraud. It's a very difficult offence to detect."

She added: "It is part of the council's policy to ensure public funds are protected and to ensure that action is taken against people who dishonestly obtain money they are not entitled to."