Two women have been sentenced to suspended jail terms in separate benefit fraud cases in Northern Ireland.

Deirdre Conway, 60, of Claggan Lane, Cookstown, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for three years at Dungannon Crown Court. She had claimed Personal Independence Payment totalling £52,204.32 while exaggerating the extent of her disability.

Ashley Edwards, 31, of Stiles Farm, Antrim, was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for two years at Laganside Crown Court. She claimed Universal Credit totalling £12,381.46 and Personal Independence Payment totalling £18,265.36 while failing to declare employment.

Both frauds were uncovered following investigations by the Department for Communities. The department also said both women are required to repay any outstanding money wrongly obtained.

Suspected benefit fraud can be reported to the Department for Communities anonymously via its website.