A FURIOUS judge sent a woman to jail after she lied in court about being a new mum to avoid imprisonment.

Liverpool woman, Heather McCarthy, had taken a job at Bury-based recruitment agency Paragon Meed.

But in June 2018, she used the details of two former employees to divert funds into her own account, with an audit revealing there had been 20 transactions amounting to £7,700.

She was previously jailed for 12 weeks for another fraud, stealing £4,800 from a lettings agency she worked for.

In December last year, at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court, Judge Peter Lawton, handed McCarthy, of Windermere Road, West Derby, an eight-month suspended prison sentence and 35 rehabilitation activity days.

He said he had been persuaded by her defence to give her a second chance after hearing how she had given birth in January last year.

But doubts were quickly raised over whether McCarthy was telling the truth and she was summonsed back to Manchester Crown Court, but failed to turn up.

A warrant was issued for McCarthy, 33, to attend Manchester Crown Court on Friday, January 15, but she again refused to attend, sending a sick note Judge Lawton said he believed was a forgery.

McCarthy was charged with contempt of court and finally arrested on Saturday before appearing at Manchester Crown Court via video link from HMP Styall.

Tom McKail, defending, said that McCarthy, who sobbed throughout the hearing, "panicked" when she appeared in court in November.

"She apologies to your honour as she has apologised to me and it is genuine remorse and genuine regret," said Mr McKail, who said McCarthy had a history of drug abuse.

"She is completely ashamed and assures me this will not happen again."

Craig MacGregor, prosecuting, said a Proceeds of Crime investigation would take place, with a hearing set for May.

Sentencing McCarthy, Judge Lawton, said: "Before I sentenced you in November, I was told you were a single mother, and you said you had not disclosed this to anyone because you had been suffering from post-natal depression.

"I told you I would take you at your word as I could not imagine anyone in your position could be quite so brazenly dishonest.

"You knew any judge dealing with a single mother would only separate mother and child as a last resort. I made it clear that that information persuaded me to pass a suspended sentence.

"This was a brazenly dishonest, calculated ploy to persuade me to suspend your sentence. It was an outrageous untruth, which suggests you lie whatever the circumstances or consequences.

"As recently as last week you said you were trying to retrieve the child's birth certificate from storage. How you thought you would not be found out is beyond me."

Activating McCarthy's eight month suspended sentence, Judge Lawton added: "It troubles me deeply that anyone could lie in the face of a court in her position and use the birth of a child as an excuse."