A 60-year-old Hadleigh woman has avoided going straight to jail after she was given a suspended prison sentence for fraudulently disposing of property days before filing for bankruptcy.

Barbara Bentley, of Yeoman Crescent, Hadleigh, had denied the charges at an earlier hearing at Ipswich Crown Court but was found guilty by a jury.

The court heard Bentley transferred a £75,000 inheritance to her son days before she filed for bankruptcy.

Among her debts, was £15,339 to Babergh council, which she was ordered to repay as part of a compensation package.

Sentencing Bentley, the Recorder Gabrielle Posner described what her claims to a jury during her trial were an incredible story and what she she did was a blatant attempt to defraud her creditors.

She handed Bentley an eight-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered to pay £1,000 costs as well as the compensation to babergh.

The court heard Bentley owed £11,786 to Babergh District Council for housing benefit overpayment and a further £3,600 to the authority for council tax arrears.

An £11,539 debt to the DWP for job seekers' allowance benefit overpayment was paid back in September 2017. 

Oliver Haswell, for Bentley, who has no previous convictions, said she had made a poor decision.

He said the offence was committed five years ago and Bentley hadn't reoffended.

Bankrupt Hadleigh woman denies fraud