A benefits cheat who claimed she was too sick to work has been spared jail after conning taxpayers out of nearly £15,000.

Elizabeth Webb, 33, received Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) after claiming she was incapable of work due to illness.

But for two and a half years she was secretly working and fraudulently claiming the benefits, totting up to £14, 521.

At a sentencing hearing at Brighton Magistrates' Court, chairman of the bench Ian Goodwin said jail “was a real prospect” for Webb.

The court heard the University of Brighton graduate worked in a number of call centre roles, while claiming to be unable to work.

Webb, who is bipolar, originally made a legitimate claim for ESA before she started working in Brighton and fraudulently claiming the cash.

She worked as a contact centre agent at Queen Square-based insurance firm Domestic and General, before working as telephone customer service agent at recruitment agency Classic Consulting UK in Queen’s Road.

She also worked at Telemarketing Company in Regency Square, and even shifts at The Lion and Lobster pub in Sillwood Street.

Despite being sent letters from the Department for Work and Pensions between November 2013 and February 2016, she did not tell them about her employment.

Her claim was eventually stopped due to an unrelated issue. Her fraudulent claims were spotted later.

In interview she admitted she did not declare her job as she did not know how long she would remain in employment, due to her mental health condition.

She said if she did declare it and lost her job she would be left without funds and apologised for her actions.

Kelly Thomas, defending, told the court: “She has no previous convictions.

“Her claim was not fraudulent from the outset and not used to fund a lavish lifestyle.”

The court heard she had recently started repaying the money at £100 per month.

Webb, who used to live in Brighton before moving into her parents home in Merryfield Crescent, Angmering, pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify change of circumstances affecting entitlement to social security benefit.

Sentencing magistrate Ian Goodwin said: “This was a significant amount of money taken over a two and half years.

“You have to understand custody was a very real prospect for you today.

“However we have taken into account your guilty plea, health issues, and the fact you started to pay money back.

“The offence is serious enough to make a community order for 12 months.”

On hearing the sentence Webb, wearing a black top with bright pink hair, replied: “Thank you.”

She will also have to do 80 hours of unpaid work.