A MOTHER who fiddled more than £20,000 in benefits during a two-year scam against taxpayers has walked free from court.

Michelle Fagan tricked the Government and her local council into paying her single-person allowances, even though her partner lived with her.

A court heard yesterday that Andrew Fawcett was also working as a bricklayer throughout the whole time Fagan claimed the benefits.

Fagan, 26, raked in a total of £22,274 in income support, council tax benefit and housing benefit between November 2003 and December 2005.

A judge spared Fagan prison after hearing she had started a part-time job and both she and Mr Fawcett were trying to pay back the money.

Fagan was given a nine-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to undergo Probation Service supervison.

"This is serious offending," the judge, Recorder Simon Phillips, told her. "Very often an element of deterrent is required in cases like this.

"It is a persistent fraud that you have perpetrated, and it is the taxpayer who is suffering at the hands of persons such as yourself.

"I am unable to draw back from the imposition of a custodial sentence, but I do, however, regard that I am able - only just - to suspend that sentence."

Teesside Crown Court was told that Fagan, of Birchall Road, Thorntree, Middlesbrough, suffered from physical and mental health problems.

Brian Russell, mitigating, told the court that Mr Fawcett, who was in the public gallery, took much of the responsibility for the fraud.

He said Mr Fawcett also spent time living at his father's house, but accepted that he also treated Fagan's property as his home

The court heard that Mr Fawcett used the address to register with a GP and take out a loan.

Mr Russell said Fagan had suffered "great shame and embarrassment" because of her court appearances.

But Mr Recorder Phillips told Fagan: "Your daughter and son - now aged eight and five - they are the ones whose future you have most immediately jeopardised by reason of your offending."

Fagan admitted three counts of failing to notify a change of circumstance.