GAZETTE & HERALD: CARER Jayne Knight stole a benefits book from the house of a holidaying friend and used it to claim the cash, Swindon Crown Court heard on Friday.

The 40-year-old of Longfield Road, Chippenham, had been left a key so she could look after Olwen Trefor-Roberts' cats and dog while she was away in Canada.

And after stealing the book from the victim's Corsham home, Knight filled in a change of address form so any new correspondence was sent to her own home.

But her deception was found out when a cashier at the Lowden post office in Chippenham realised the book had been stolen and withheld it.

When she was questioned by police Knight denied any wrongdoing and only pleaded guilty after fingerprint and handwriting experts had examined the payment slips.

The court was told Miss Trefor-Roberts had gone to Canada for three weeks in October 2000 and on her return found her industrial injuries benefits book missing.

Sue Evans, prosecuting, said Knight had cashed the book on four occasions, first getting £43.72 then three payments of £21.86. On the fifth visit to the post office the book had been reported missing by Miss Trefor-Roberts and a cashier refused to hand over money.

Miss Evans said: "The defendant had completed a change of address form purporting to be Miss Trefor-Roberts ."

The case went to the Crown Court but in July 2003 Knight failed to turn up, telling her solicitor she had suffered a miscarriage. She then failed to attend the following month and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

The court heard she had a list of previous convictions including theft and deception.

Knight pleaded guilty to one count of theft, four of deception and one of attempted deception.

David Chidgey, defending, said she had a nine-year-old son and was caring for a man who had a heart condition. She had failed to attend the hearing in June this year he said because the man had to go to hospital for a triple heart bypass and she had accompanied him.

Judge Tom Longbotham imposed a two year conditional discharge and ordered Knight to pay £109.30 in compensation.

He said: "If you breach the conditional discharge you will have demonstrated at that point that you are not prepared to give up your dishonest ways and you will go to prison."