WHILE applauding the actions of City of York Council and the Department for Works and Pensions in bringing to court a York woman who had defrauded the benefits system of £8,000 (Evening Press, April 22), the sentence of a 12 months conditional discharge and payment of £100 costs seems abysmal.

Even though she has now, apparently, made arrangements to begin repaying the money, the sentence handed out does not, I believe, act as a sufficient deterrent to anyone contemplating similar fraud.

Richard Starks,

The Green,

Elvington,

York.

Updated: 10:52 Wednesday, April 27, 2005