FIVE women are today behind bars for a benefits scam totalling more than £178,000.

Each woman had falsely claimed that they were single and as a result were over-paid either working tax credits, income support, housing benefit or council tax benefits.

The scam was uncovered as part of an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs into a series of unrelated false claims.

Beverley Parry, 34, and Anthea Jolliffe, 33, were both sentenced yesterday to 12 months in prison.

Mother-of-four, Parry, of Windfield Road, Garston, had pleaded guilty to falsely claiming £52,832 of income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit over six years.

Joliffe – also a mother-of-four – of Southbrook Road, Netherley, had pleaded guilty to falsely claiming £43,245 in benefits over three years.

Katherine Gershman, 29, of Plessington Close, Prenton, Laine Campbell, 26, of Hurst Park Drive, Huyton, and Kelly Lavery, 29, were all sentenced to six months in prison for falsely claiming £26,274, £30,642 and £26,036 respectively.