A Lowestoft woman obtained benefits of £60,000 after failing to inform the authorities that she owned a property in Spain, it has been alleged.

Before Ipswich Crown Court is Sally Titchner, 58, of Kirkley Park Road, who has denied six offences of making a dishonest representation to obtain income support, housing benefit, council tax benefit, jobseekers' allowance and employment and support allowance by not declaring she owned a property in Torrevieja.

She has also denied fraud by dishonestly making a false statement to Waveney District Council in respect of discretionary housing payments by failing to give correct details of her capital.

The offences are alleged to have been committed between March 1, 2006, and April 9, 2014.

Simon Gladwell, prosecuting, said that in April 2007 Titchner and her husband sold a Spanish property for 200,000 euros and 12 days later she purchased another property in her own name.

He alleged the total amount received in benefits by Titchner was £60,000. 'The prosecution say that had the agencies known about the property she had in Spain the wouldn't have paid the benefits she received,' he said.

The court heard that Titchner told an investigator she held the property in trust for her daughters.

The trial continues.