Benefit fraudsters avoid being 'locked up'

Two benefit fraudsters have avoided jail but both received a warning that further offending would see them "locked up".

Kirsty Carolina Bricknell, 35, admitted stealing $52,205.68 in benefits and was sentenced to nine months' home detention in Tauranga District Court on Monday.

Tauranga woman Esther Te Kimioranga Awa, 49, was sentenced to six months' community detention, 200 hours' community work, and nine months' supervision after admitting stealing $21,086.93 in benefits.