A woman admitted £4,000 worth of benefit fraud after failing to declare that she was in employment - as a lap dancer.

Samira Abdullah made claims for income support and housing benefit despite getting a job at Leeds-based Liberte Gentlemen’s Club.

Abdullah, of Overthorpe Road, Thornhill, Dewsbury, admitted dishonestly making a false statement to obtain a benefit.

The mum-of-one also pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to notify Leeds Council and the Department for Work and Pensions of a change in her circumstances.

The offences were dated between August 2012 and September 2013, Kirklees magistrates heard.

Prosecutor Alex Bozman said that the 24-year-old, who previously lived in Leeds, starting claiming the benefits on the basis that she was a single parent.

She was legally required to tell the relevant agencies of a change in her circumstances likely to effect her entitlement to these benefits.

But it came to light that she had been working at the lap dancing club since August 2012.

Mr Bozman said that the total overpayment in benefits to her as a result was £4,072.

Nazzish Shabir, mitigating, said that her client had no guaranteed income or set days from her work.

She added: “She didn’t appreciate there would be an effect on her benefit entitlement.”

Magistrates were told that she has since gained a law degree but her future as a paralegal was in doubt following her criminal conviction.

Magistrates ordered her to undergo 60 hours of unpaid work as part of a community order.