A CHEATING nurse who worked illegally for two-and-a-half years at a Kent hospital begged magistrates to take pity on her before being jailed for six months today.

Nigerian Anike Smith, 36, said she did not mean any harm and pleaded to be allowed to return to her homeland so she could look after her children.

And her lawyer said it would be in the taxpayer's interest not to jail her because she was volunteering to leave the country.

But magistrates disagreed - and sentenced Smith to six months in prison for deceiving NHS bosses by making out she was a legal worker.

The court heard how she lied on her application form in January 2005 after obtaining a fake stamp in her passport.

Smith worked as a healthcare assistant at Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, until being exposed last month.

She told the court: "I am sorry for what I have done but it is the only way I can earn a living. I didn’t mean any harm.

"I have my children to take care of. I have a flight ticket to return home and I would be glad to go."

Richard Umejiego, defending, said his client was a good woman who was desperate to work.

He pleaded: "She doesn’t want to cost the taxpayer any more money. You know our prisons are already full.

"No-one is looking after her children back home. It is the best thing for the taxpayer to let her go home voluntarily."

However, chairman of the magistrates Michael Lambell told Smith: "The offence was so serious that we think custody is the only way of dealing with you."

Smith, of Wordsworth House, Woolwich Common and who has no previous convictions, was arrested on September 17 while being interviewed by immigration officials on a seperate matter.

She made no comment in her police interview but pleaded guilty to obtaining a pecuniary advantage two days later.

After sentence, a Queen Mary’s Hospital NHS Trust spokesman said its staff checks are up to scratch but that individuals can slip through the net it they are "determined enough".