A 24-year-old Blackburn woman was drawn into a major, national benefit fraud involving forged giros.

But Blackburn magistrates heard that Fiona Michelle Ward was no more than a 'stooge' for others far more involved in the wide-reaching organisation.

Ward, of Taylor Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to two offences of obtaining £275 by deception and three of attempting to obtain £275 by deception.

he was made subject to a 12-month community rehabilitation order and ordered to pay £75 costs.

David Stocks, prosecuting on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions, said the department had been fighting a substantial national problem involving counterfeit giros.

"These are being cashed throughout the country and especially in Lancashire," said Mr Stocks.

"They are manufactured to correspond with identification that is actual and has been stolen or, alternatively, fake identification."

He said the amount was usually in the region of £300 and Ward had used a forged Irish birth certificate to support some of the giros she tendered.

Her participation had been confirmed by fingerprint and video evidence.

"She cashed two giros on the basis that she would get a percentage," said Mr Stocks.

Daniel King, defending, said Ward was a woman of limited previous convictions who had been drawn into a significant and well organised national fraud.

"There is no suggestion that she is anything other than a stooge used by other people," said Mr King.

"She was manipulated for very little reward."