A MUM who cheated the benefits system out of more than £52,000 has escaped a jail sentence.

Jacqueline Johnson, 37, falsely claimed more than £31,000 in income support, £19,000 in housing benefit and £2,000 in council tax benefit over four years.

She claimed to be a single mother with no extra income, but for most of the time she was living with her husband who was in full-time employment.

Johnson also worked as a sales assistant, shop assistant and then a care worker.

She gave false National Insurance details to one of her employers to avoid detection and was only caught when a tip-off was made to the Department of Work and Pensions hotline.

Teresa Loftus, prosecuting, said an investigation was launched, which proved she had dishonestly claimed the cash.

If Johnson admitted her true circumstances, she would have been legitimately entitled to around £15,000 in family tax credit payments.

Caroline Patrick, defending, said Johnson had been struggling to pay off debts built up by her son. She also had to cope with her husband’s drinking problems.

She said Johnson, who has now split up from her husband, had also lost both her parents within a year. She suffered anxiety and stress and was ashamed to appear in the dock.

Recorder Mr Richard Pratt said discounting the £15,000 she would properly have been entitled to, and £1,000 she had repaid, the amount still owing was about £37,000.

He said: “Those who steal by defrauding public money, as you have done, are stealing from every member of the community, especially the most vulnerable and needy. It is properly viewed as an offence against society itself.”

He said he was considering imposing a custodial sentence but because of her circumstances, he would suspend the 18-week term for two years.

Johnson, of Manchester Road, Mossley, pleaded guilty to failing to notify the DWP of changes in her circumstances leading to the overpayment in income support between 2004 and 2008, claiming an overpayment of housing benefit over the same period and claiming an overpayment in council tax benefit.

She was also ordered to carry out 150 hours’ unpaid work.