A convent worker who used a string of false names to claim nearly £30,000 in benefits has narrowly avoided jail.

Pauline Hussain used five other surnames to swindle Hounslow Council out of the benefits as well as claiming to be too ill to work while at the same time working at a convent, Charing Cross Hospital and a care agency.

She also failed to declare she was married and that her husband was working.

Acton Magistrates' Court heard Hussain, 49, formerly of Eastbury Grove, Chiswick, went by other surnames, including Pegg, Kinsey, Burton, Squires and Khan to claim the benefits.

She was given a two-year suspended sentence and two-year supervision order and ordered to repay the money.

The council became suspicious when data-matching showed there was another person called Pegg living at Hussain's address.

Further investigation showed Hussain was working at Charing Cross Hospital using another name and National Insurance number.

Hussain falsely claimed £11,385 in housing benefit and £4,036 in council tax benefit between June 16, 2001, and February 19, 2006.

She had been claiming incapacity benefit on the grounds she was too ill to work, falsely claiming £12,985 from the Department for Work and Pensions. In total, Hussain received £28,408.73.

Hussain pleaded guilty to five offences under the Social Security Administration Act 1992.

Hounslow Council's lead member for finance, Gerald McGregor, said: "Using five assumed names, failing to tell us she was married, and too unwell to work, this woman was calculated in claiming benefits from Hounslow Council and the Department for Work and Pensions.

"She played the system, and for a long time she was successful at it.

"I would like to congratulate our fraud investigation unit, working alongside their counterparts at the Department for Work and Pensions on bringing this woman to justice."