MOTHER-of-four Linda Barton took a job cleaning to help make ends meet.

But Blackburn magistrates heard that the £24 a week she was paid should have been declared when she claimed benefit.

Barton, 31, of Ermine Close, Higher Croft, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to two specimen charges of making a false statement to obtain benefit.

She was granted a conditional discharge for 12 months after the magistrates, who made no order for costs, expressed their sympathy for her situation.

"We are conscious of the fact that you are struggling with four children to bring up," said the chairman, Ron O'Keeffe. "We are sympathetic but we are not condoning what you have done."

Allison Gray, prosecuting, said Barton had claimed over a nine month period when she was working for Texicare Ltd as a cleaner and earning £48 a fortnight.

The total overpayment had been £315.

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said his client had four children aged 13, 12, nine and five and received no support from their father.

A woman with no previous convictions, she had been put in a desperate financial situation and had borrowed money to keep her head above water.

"The state has lost little but this lady has lost a great deal as a result of her appearance here today," added Mr Church-Taylor.

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