GAZETTE & HERALD: MOTHER-OF-ONE Jayne Knight used the flat key she had been left by a holidaying friend to steal his benefits book.

Knight, 39, then pocketed the money due to him by cashing the cheques in the book at Lowden Post Office in Chippenham.

On Friday, Knight was remanded in custody after being on the run for more than three months having again failed to turn up for a court hearing.

Although Knight carried out the theft and deceptions in late 2000 she was arrested in early 2001 and denied any wrong doing.

The case went to Swindon Crown Court but in July 2003 she failed to turn up telling her solicitor she had suffered a miscarriage.

She then failed to attend the following month and did not produce a medical certificate for her first absence and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

Knight was then brought to the court in April this year and granted bail so reports could be prepared after she admitted the offences.

However, she failed to keep the appointment with the probation service and then did not attend for sentencing in June so another warrant was issued.

Michael Butt, prosecuting, said that Knight had been acquainted with victim Olwen Trefor-Roberts and may have been partially the carer for him.

In October 2000 he said Mr Trefor-Roberts left his home to go on holiday to Canada leaving a key with Knight so she could look after his flat.

But while he was away she entered it and took his industrial injuries book cashing the credits on four occasions before being caught by a suspicious post office worker. On the first occasion she received £43.72 she was not entitled to and on the following three trips she received payments of £21.86.

However on the fifth attempt to get money from the Lowden post office she was caught.

Mr Butt said that she had a list of previous convictions for theft and deception and had been convicted of matters in 2001, after these offences.

Knight, formerly of Timbrell Street, Trowbridge, but now living in Longfield Road, pleaded guilty to one count of theft, four of deception and one of attempted deception.

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

Asking that his client be granted bail he said that she was now living at that man's home.

Refusing bail, Judge Tom Longbotham adjourned the case to October 22 for sentencing.