A WOMAN charged with falsely claiming benefits to the tune of £70,000 will stand trial next month.

Theresa Burberry gave no indication of her plea to the seven charges which span a ten year period when she appeared before magistrates sitting in Swindon on Monday afternoon.

Prosecuting on behalf of Swindon Borough Council, Alan Fuller told the court that the charges related to false benefit claims to both Swindon Borough Council and the Department of Work and Pensions which had totalled £70,000.

Claiming 45 year old Burberry had occupied a council house she wasn't entitled to, he said this had cost the council an additional £70,000 in housing another family elsewhere.

Hearing the value of the offences, magistrates declined jurisdiction of the offence.

Chairman of the bench Jane Flew said: "This court does not feel its powers of sentence are sufficient to sentence you if you either subsequently plead guilty or are found guilty at trial.

"We are sending you to crown court where you will appear on March 11. We are going to release you on unconditional bail. Bail is a promise that you are going to make to the court now that you will come back to Swindon Crown Court.

"Failing to do that is an offence for which you can be fined or imprisoned. If you were to offend in any way while on bail that offence would be seen as far more serious because you are on bail."