A MOTHER to a six-week-old baby has been spared jail after fraudulently claiming more than £30,000 in benefits.

Asha Pepper, 31, pleaded guilty to five counts of dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances.

Appearing at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court in Barrow, Pepper pleaded guilty to all five charges.

She claimed income support between July 19 2014 and April 15 2016, disability living allowance between July 16 2014 and August 23 2016, and carers allowance between July 14 2014 and May 8 2016. She failed to notify the Department for Work and Pensions for all three.

She also claimed housing benefits from South Lakeland District Council between June 27 2016 and August 21 2016 and tax credits from HMRC between July 11 2014 and May 2 2016.

Pepper failed to notify the relevant authorities when she resumed working as a care assistant, or when her son was taken into care.

Maureen Fawcett, defending, said: "She went through two or three years of troubled times.

"She found herself in a hole and had to do something about it.

"These were a long time ago now and she's had this hanging over her head since."

Pepper, of Vicars Fields, Kendal, was handed a 26 week prison sentence suspended for two years.

She must also complete 22 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months and pay a victim surcharge of £115.