The judge added: "People who deceive or seek to deceive the courts into accepting testimonials that are bogus and false commit a very serious offence."

David Evans, prosecuting, said Mitchell’s offending came to light after a doctor at the Fir Tree Medical Centre, Croxteth, asked to see the payment records.

Shetried to cover her tracks, but was eventually caught when doctors at the practice got a locksmith to open the safe. She was suspended pending an investigation, but resigned before it was carried out.

Mr Evans told how an envelope containing £680 and medical cards later turned up at the doctor’s home.

It was discovered she had lied to the surgery to get the job – hiding the fact she had previous convictions for obtaining property by deception and for stealing £4,000 from her previous employer, Mothercare.

Mitchell also lied to the Abbey National about her criminal background to obtain a £79,695 mortgage.

Mitchell, of The Gables, Moor Lane, Fazakerley, admitted obtaining money transfer by deception and obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception and theft between July 2006 and January 2007.

When she turned up at court on October 24, 2008, to be sentenced, Judge Holloway noticed a dodgy reference and a further investigation was launched.

Mitchell’s new bosses not only confirmed the reference was a fraud, but discovered she had also been scamming them.

They found two fraudulent cheques had been cashed totalling £3,750.

Zillah Williams, defending, told the court her crimes had been driven to provide for her family.