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An egg packer conned a council out of nearly £8,000 in benefits as she splashed her late mum’s cash on home improvements.

Jane Meakin inherited more than £37,000 from her mum Maureen in 2010, but continued to illegally claim housing and council tax benefit for almost five years.

It was only after Ryedale Council launched a probe into Meakin’s finances that the authority realised that she had received the cash, after telling them upon making her initial claim she would notify them when the cash came through.

Anybody with savings of more than £16,000 is not entitled to claim certain benefits.

The 61-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of failing to notify the council about a change in circumstances at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

As she entered her plea, previously unconvicted Meakin, of Yedingham, appeared emotional as she said she was “very, very sorry”.

“She knows she should have done better,” said her solicitor Nick Tubbs, in mitigation.

“She bitterly regrets it and is deeply sorry to be before the court.”

He told the court that his client had used a “significant” proportion of her late mother’s cash to do much-needed repairs to her rented home, where she lives alone.

She also used some of the money to pay off pre-existing debts.

But Mr Tubbs said his apologetic client was now paying back the money through her benefits, adding: “She wishes she could pay it back in one fell swoop.”

Magistrates ordered her to do 80 hours of unpaid work. She also has to pay £300 costs and a £60 surcharge. And Mr Tubbs added: “I’d be deeply surprised if she appeared before the court again.”