A WORCESTER mum has been spared jail despite raking in more than £6,000 in a benefits scam.

Claire Banks claimed income support without telling the Benefits Agency her husband Ian was taking home £190 per week from his full-time job with city firm Uniclad Systems.

The scam lasted between January, 1997, and January last year.

The 25-year-old was overpaid £6,777 in total and after she was caught, told investigators her husband knew nothing about it.

Banks, of Oak Avenue, Brickfields, yesterday admitted three counts of obtaining benefits by deception and asked for 121 similar offences to be considered.

Chesterfield magistrates ordered her to carry out 180 hours community service with £75 costs.

They told her custody had been considered, but they had borne in mind the effect jail would have on her children.

Jonathan Taaffe, defending, said the family was in a hopeless situation after building up "staggering debts".

"When her husband gained employment she should have reported it to the department," he told the court.

"This would have led to a drop in income until a family credit claim was processed, but she didn't tell him or the department.''