A MOTHER-of-five who bought three houses with the help of a £47,000 benefits fraud has avoided a jail sentence.

Safeer Akhter claimed income support in 2003 on the basis that she was a single mum and was hard-up.

But Birmingham Crown Court heard she moved in with her husband within a month and the couple snapped up three properties by the time the fraud was revealed.

The 41-year-old, of Pelham Road, Ward End, admitted failing to notify the authorities of a change of circumstances.

She was sentenced to 52 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.

Recorder Penelope Moreland told Akhter she was prepared to suspend a prison sentence because of her previous good character and “family circumstances”.

She said: “I accept the claim was not fraudulent from the outset, although it rapidly became a fraudulent claim.

“And I accept that your lack of English makes it unlikely you were acting alone in this.”

Daniel White, prosecuting, said Akhter was paid a total of £46,969 to which she was not entitled.

Evidence that showed they were living together included a joint bank and mortgage account with gas and electricity bills paid for by her husband.

An aggravating feature, said Mr White, was that Akhter filled in review forms in 2007 and did not mention any change in her circumstances.

Tarlowchan Dubb, defending, said Akhter had already paid back £10,000 of the cash.

He said she had suffered domestic abuse, did not speak English and had very little freedom and independence away from the family home.

He said her hobbies were sewing and knitting, that she had suffered from depression and any prison sentence would have a “catastrophic” effect on her.