THE son of a £10,000 benefits cheat today said: "I totally disown my mum."

Barbara Pinder's son Darrell, of Bacup, said he was ashamed at his mother's crimes and has totally cut ties with her.

The 58-year-old grandmother pleaded guilty to five charges of making false statements to obtain benefits when she appeared at Blackburn Magistrates Court last week.

Pinder was committed to Preston Crown Court for sentence after magistrates ruled their powers of punishment were insufficient.

Pinder, of Robert Street, Blackburn, had at least eight jobs during a three-year period when she claimed nearly £10,000 she wasn't entitled to, the court heard.

Darrell said: "I think it is totally wrong what she has done and I disown her.

"When I saw it in the paper I was disgusted at the way she had done things.

"Taking amounts like that out of the system is just ridiculous and she has brought shame on herself. "

During the three-year period during which she claimed benefits, Pinder had worked for Thwaites, Woolworths, JD Wetherspoons, a temp agency, a nursing and homecare agency, Rentokil, CFN Holdings plc and Lancashire Cleaning Services under three different assumed names.

Benefit investigators had initially been alerted by an anonymous tip-off.

Darrell, 31 said: "I want people to know that I think what she has done is wrong. Some people might think it is strange what I am saying but I want to teach my mum a lesson."