TWO benefit cheats who claimed thousands of pounds in benefits have been given prison sentences by Bolton magistrates.

Debra Shuttleworth, aged 43, of Ashworth Lane, Bolton, was jailed for four months, and Yvonne Scholes, aged 34, of Louisa Street, Bolton, was jailed for two months.

Both had pleaded guilty to theft charges, and Scholes asked for 42 other offences to be taken into consideration.

The court was told that last February, the Department for work and Pensions started to investigate employees of a chatline operating in the Bury area. It was found that nearly every employee was falsely claiming benefits.

Shuttleworth had claimed benefit saying she was unfit for work, but had been working when she made her claim. Scholes had claimed Income Support as a single person and had failed to declare her work.

Shuttleworth falsely claimed benefits amounting to £12,210 from April 2000 to July 2003, while being paid more than £30,000 in wages. Scholes claimed £11,091 from February 2002 to September 2003, while being paid more than £22,000 in wages.

During the investigation, the Department for Work and Pensions worked in conjunction with the police and other Government Agencies including the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise. Other cases are appearing before the courts in connection with the investigation, with the alleged offences carrying a high monetary value.

Passing sentence, the magistrates said a custodial sentence in both cases was the only option.