A 48-YEAR-old Blackburn woman who ran a cleaning business at the same time as she was claiming invalidity benefits has been jailed.

Blackburn magistrates heard Denise Pye was overpaid by more than £16,000 over nearly four years.

But defence solicitor Louise Voce said little of the money generated by D Pye Cleaning Services had found its way into her client's pocket.

Pye, of Redlam, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to two charges of false accounting and three of obtaining property by deception. She was jailed for six weeks.

Miss Voce lodged notice of appeal against sentence and made an application for bail pending any appeal at Preston Crown Court but the application was refused.

Robin Phoenix, prosecuting, said Pye made a claim for benefits in 1998 on the basis she was incapable of work due to illness or injury.

"The claim was renewed periodically when she maintained she was not working and would report any change in circumstances," said Mr Phoenix.

"It has been established that between October 1999 and July 2003 she was working as a self-employed cleaner earning between £20 and £143 a week."

Miss Voce said Pye engaged other people to do most of the cleaning because of her own physical problems and by the time she had paid them and bought the cleaning materials there was very little money left.

She said Pye had brought up five children without relying on benefits and when times had been hard she had taken on two jobs to make ends meet.

"She has managed to go through her life without committing any offences. She is ashamed and remorseful," said Miss Voce.