A MOTHER who claimed more than £60,000 from the council - intended to be used to care for her ‘profoundly disabled’ daughter - has avoided going to prison.

The remorseless Bia Abdul, of Audley Street, Reading, was convicted at Reading Crown Court after Reading Borough Council uncovered her ‘large-scale’ offending.

The 45-year-old, who was handed a suspended sentence on January 16, abused a direct payments system and raised false invoices to claim a substantial sum from the authority.

Recorder Patrick Talbot considered an immediate period of imprisonment for Abdul, who had been the primary carer for her daughter all her life.

However, he said the impact of sending her to prison would be detrimental to her daughter and instead he imposed a sentence of two years, suspended for 36 months, with an unpaid work requirement of 50 hours and a curfew order.

The council - described by the prosecution as the ‘victim’ in the case - had asked for costs to be recovered, but the application was not made due to her limited means.

Simon Blackford, prosecuting said: “There are clear examples of out-and-out fraud, which indicate the thorough dishonesty that the defendant employed.

“She [the daughter] should have had a great deal of care that she did not receive.

“Given the close relationship, she must have expected to notice that over 60 per cent of the money given by the council was not going on her care.”

Concerns were raised by Christopher Blake, defending, who said the long-term provision of her daughter’s care would be uncertain if she was sent to prison.

He also added that she was of previous good character, but remained adamant that she was not responsible.

Out of the £98,000 claimed in total by Abdul, more than £60,000 was found to be used for matters not relating to her daughter’s care.

This included a trip to Pakistan and Recorder Talbot accepted another person may have been involved in putting pressure on Abdul to continue offending.

The fraudulent activity carried on for more than three years. She managed the payments on her daughter’s behalf, going to great lengths to avoid being caught.

The direct payments system is for people who have been assessed as needing help from social services.

The court heard how Abdul had deliberately raised false invoices to claim money from the authority.

During his sentencing, recorder Talbot added: “You had syphoned off the remaining funds into four separate accounts.

“I am satisfied that the appropriate sentence can be achieved by me imposing a suspended sentence of imprisonment.

“These are your first offences and I am prepared to accept that you were of excellent character.

“It is so important for me to take into account that you have been - for all of her life - the primary carer for your dependent daughter and that she needs 24-hour care.

Following the sentencing, councillor Tony Jones, lead member for Adult Social Care, said: “The successful prosecution was the culmination of a proactive council investigation which successfully uncovered a large-scale fraud of the direct payments system.

“This was a very difficult offence to identify and prove and shows just how much effort went into concealing this particular fraud.

“I would like to thank all the officers involved in securing this conviction.

“The council will not hesitate to investigate instances where fraud is suspected and - where necessary - prosecute.

"We hope the prosecution and subsequent sentencing will serve as a warning to those who consider deliberately committing fraud.

“Since this case, the council has put in place an online account system which, as well as improving the service for clients, helps prevent the misuse of funds.”