A woman who claimed her mother had died from cancer in a sponsorship con has been jailed for 14 months.

Jackie Carroll knocked at houses in Folkestone, Hythe, Dymchurch, Lydd and Wittersham over a four-month period to ask for donations towards a charity sponsored walk or skydive.

She used a genuine Breast Cancer Care form she had downloaded from the Internet.

Many of the pledges were for small amounts of £1 or £2. But Maidstone Crown Court heard she would add a zero to the figures so that the next sponsor felt obliged to promise her the same.

Carroll, of Carey Close, New Romney, admitted five charges of fraud by false representation between July and October 2008. She asked for a total of 107 similar offences to be taken into consideration.

Her total benefit was said to be £379, which she spent on cigarettes and alcohol.

Judge James O’Mahony said she had "deceived and cheated" and her actions were "extremely repugnant" to decent members of the public.

He added that it would be "appalling" if such criminal behaviour affected genuine charity collections or donations.

Prosecutor Abigail White told how Carroll, 25, went from door to door. "She said she was raising cash after her mother died of cancer," she said.

"The most people ever gave her was usually £1 or £2 but Carroll would add a zero so the next person would feel obliged to give her the same. So £2 would become £20."

Several of those who pledged their support were elderly.