A SOCIAL worker has been jailed for more than a year after illegally claiming £67,000 of benefits.

Deborah Carmichael, 47, pocketed thousands between August 2005 and March 2016.

She submitted a claim to the Department of Work and Pensions in 2004 for a number of mental and physical illnesses.

But, she failed report the changes in her circumstances the following year when she returned to work.

After going on trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court, Carmichael from Knightswood, admitted “knowingly failing to give prompt notification” to the DWP.

The Glasgow City Council employee was awarded £67,247 that she wasn’t entitled to.

Sheriff Bill Totten jailed Carmichael for 16 months, reduced from 20 months, when she appeared in the dock on October 24.

He said: “You must understand the serious nature of this offence.

“There can be no alternative but to impose a prison sentence.

“I sympathise as any right thinking person should with the very real problems and difficulties you have experienced.”

He added that she “must have been well aware” of the serious nature of her crime.