A Staverton woman who cheated the benefits system out of more than £20,000 has escaped being sent to prison.

Pamela Hope claimed income support for a couple even though her husband had moved out of the marital home, a court heard.

Jim Bennett, prosecuting, told Swindon crown court that Hope was caught as benefits investigators were keeping observations on her husband Ronald Hope.

He said the couple married in 1999 and made a joint application for benefits in Mr Hope's name.

However the couple separated in August 2000 and Mr Hope left the family home, but two months later a new claim form was submitted stating they were still living together.

Mrs Hope, 47, then continued to claim the money until late January this year, when investigators stepped in to question her.

Mr Bennett said covert cameras were fitted in Post Offices and in August last year she was spotted at Hilperton Marsh Post Office cashing a benefits book in her husband's name.

When she was interviewed she accepted cashing the cheques saying initially she shared the money with her estranged husband but then she kept it all as she couldn't live on the single person's benefit.

She said she was going to tell the authorities but she knew there was a warrant out for her husband's arrest, so she decided not to.

Hope, of Elm Close, Staverton, pleaded guilty to one count of deception, three of dishonestly claiming benefit and asked for 172 similar matters to be taken into consideration. The total loss was £20,702.

Simon Burns, defending, said that his client had only become involved in the false claim because of her husband, who was jailed for 15 months at Birmingham crown court earlier in the month.

He said that his client only received half of the money from the deception and she had not benefited greatly from the crime.

Despite the overpayment he said she lived in a council bungalow and would have been entitled to a proportion of the money as a single person.

"She is a sad, sad lady who relies upon the support of her family. She was put upon in this case," he said.

Passing sentence Judge John McNaught said "I hope you understand that the magistrates sent this case here because they didn't think the power they have to sentence you to prison, of up to six months, was enough.

"When any matter is over £10,000 then people almost always got to prison. Here it was over £20,000. By rights I ought to be looking at sending you to prison."

He passed a nine-month jail term but suspended it for a year, meaning she will only serve the term if she commits another imprisonable offence during the next 12 months.