COUNCIL fraud bosses have criticised a top judge's decision to let a Preston single mum walk free from court after she admitted stealing £22,000 in benefits.

Preston City Council officials said the decision sends out the wrong message to people thinking about committing benefit fraud.

Dorinda Clitheroe, of Rose Lane, Preston, was originally sentenced to four months in jail after admitting charges of false accounting and obtaining property by deception at Preston Crown Court in December.

But the mother-of-four was this week released from custody after having her sentence reduced to 28 days by Lord Justice Rose, one of Britain's most senior judges, at the Court of Appeal in London.

As Clitheroe had already served more than a month in jail, she was allowed to return home.

Justice Rose said his decision was an 'act of mercy' because Clitheroe had previously been of good character and had sole responsibility for the care of her children.

Preston City Council and the Department of Work and Pensions brought the joint prosecution after discovering that 46-year-old Clitheroe had claimed £22,700 in benefits over a five-year period while earning an £11,000 salary.

Clitheroe claimed that the cash had been spent on essential requirements for her family and not on high living.

She has four children between the ages of six and twelve and received no financial help from her estranged husband.

A Preston City Council spokesman said: "We're disappointed -- reducing the sentence sends out the wrong message.

"We take the issue of benefit fraud very seriously and have detailed systems, procedures and checks in place to root out fraud."

"Anyone who suspects that benefit fraud may be taking place should contact our benefit fraud hotline on 08000 565603 or visit

www.preston.gov.uk."

The Department of Work and Pensions declined to comment.