Courts are increasingly using electronic tagging

In one of the first orders of its kind in England, the 52-year-old mother and her 33-year-old daughter from Newcastle, will have to observe a 1900 GMT to 0700 GMT curfew.

Newcastle magistrates were told how Patricia Wardle marshalled her family into fraudulently claiming more than �25,600 in Income Support payments.

The scam came to light after fraud investigators from the Department for Work and Pensions checked employers' wage records and then interviewed the women separately.

Wardle's second daughter, Lorraine, 30, was also involved in the family fraud and was given a community punishment order.

Each of them carried on two cleaning jobs while they continued to claim benefit, the court was told.

'Change public attitudes'

Fraud Minister for Work Malcolm Wicks said: "People in Newcastle want us to stop fraudsters from taking money from those who really need it.

"We are trying to change public attitudes to create zero tolerance to benefit fraud.

"People in the North East can play their part by refusing to tolerate fraud in every town, every street and every home and helping shop the fraudsters among them."

All the charges related to making false declarations under the Social Security Act between 1999 and 2002.

Patricia Wardle, of Deepdale Crescent, Newcastle, claimed �13,701 and was sentenced to an Electronic Curfew Order for four months plus a Community Rehabilitation Order for 18 months.

Tracy Ann Wardle, also of Deepdale Crescent, claimed �2,430 and was also given an Electronic Curfew Order for four months.

Lorraine Wardle, of Ponteland Road, Newcastle, claimed �9,526 and received a Community Punishment Order for 240 hours.