by Keith Hunt

A mother who dishonestly claimed almost £38,000 in benefit over several years has narrowly escaped a jail sentence.

Weeping Kelly Lawrence was told by a judge: "It was a very close call...because I don't want to give the wrong message to others who think if they cheat the social they are not going to get that punishment."

But he added he had to ask himself if it was in the public interest to send the 31-year-old mother-of-three into custody.

Judge Andrew Goymer told Lawrence: "If I send you to prison it will have a devastating effect on your children's lives."

Lawrence, of Samual Drive, Kemsley, near Sittingbourne was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment suspended for a year and ordered to do 220 hours of unpaid work.

She admitted making a false representation between June 2001 and January 2004 and two deception charges. Maidstone Crown Court heard Lawrence claimed housing and council tax benefit and income support without declaring she was living with her husband Jason Braine.

Judge Goymer had indicated at an earlier hearing that prison "remained very much on the agenda".

James Rouse, defending, said: "It is something she bitterly regrets doing. There is no luxurious lifestyle. She is an excellent mother and has done her best raising her children on her own."

~ Read more news from the Sittingbourne area >>>