A woman carried on claiming  benefits – after extending a trip to the Caribbean, a court heard.

Carol Spence, 52, of Brackenhall,  claimed a further £2,800 after failing to tell officials she was staying on in  Jamaica.

She admitted failing to notify the  Department for Work and Pensions of a  change in her circumstances.

Andy Wills, prosecuting, told Kirklees magistrates that Spence started claiming  incapacity benefit in May 2007.

He said: “It was one of the conditions  of her claims that if there was any change  in her circumstances, the DWP must be  notified immediately.  This is because it  can have an effect on the amount of  benefit she should be paid.”

The prosecutor said that Spence – who  has a dual British and Jamaican passport  – then went abroad in December 2011.

She did not return until May 2012 and  failed to contact the DWP to say that she  was living abroad.

Mr Wills said: “During this time the  benefit continued to be paid on the basis  that she was eligible to benefit and still in  the UK. If the DWP had been aware of  her going from the UK it would have  been withdrawn.”

Magistrates heard that officers attended at Spence’s last known address in  Brackenhall Road. A tenant said she was  aware that Spence had gone abroad but  had no further information on her.

When Spence returned to the UK she claimed that she had intended to take a  short trip but suffered from illness while  there and had to extend it.

Spence said a relative had transferred  her benefit money to her when she  needed it.

Hajra Khan, mitigating, said her  client accepted she should have notified the DWP before she left the country.

She said: “It wasn’t her intention to  stay for long but she fell ill and was  unable to travel back.

“She accepts she was in the wrong  taking these benefits during this time.

“It’s not suggested that the benefit was  obtained fraudulently, she just failed to  notify her change in circumstances.”

Magistrates gave Spence, who is  repaying the money, a four-week curfew  between 7pm and 7am.

She was also ordered to pay £85 costs  and £60 victim surcharge.