A SINGLE mum spiralled into debt when she borrowed money to pay for the funeral of her four-month-old baby who was a victim of sudden infant death syndrome, a court heard.

Blackburn magistrates heard that in an effort to do the best she could for her remaining two children Catherine Robinson had cheated the Department of Employment and Pensions out of £1,447 in benefits by taking a part-time job in a chip shop.

And defence solicitor Basharat Ditta told the court that he hoped, now they were aware of the tragic circumstances, the department would be able to take a more lenient view when it came to recovering the overpayment.

Speaking after the hearing Miss Robinson, 24, said the court appearance had been hanging over her and she was glad to put it behind her.

"I just want to get on with my life and do the best I can for my children," said Miss Robinson. "Andrew's death could not be explained which made it all the harder to accept but now all this is behind me I hope I can build a better life for my other two children. What has happened is in the past and I just want to move forward."

Robinson, of Woone Lane, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to two charges of making a false statement to obtain benefit and asked for 34 similar offences to be taken into consideration. She was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £75 costs.

Mr Ditta told the court at the time of the offences Robinson had found herself in a desperate situation. The loan taken out to pay for Andrew's funeral was a major burden and she and her two children, Dylan, then 5, and Emily, then two, were living in a damp flat which had no hot water.

"Having been on the council housing list for some time she applied for the privately rented house where she now lives but was told she needed a sizeable deposit," said Mr Ditta.

"About that time she saw an advert for a part-time assistant at her local chip shop and she got the job. The money she earned, about £60 a week, was put to one side to fund her move to a new house. It's got hot water, central heating and it's a house where she can properly care for her children," he said.

"The last two years have been horrendous for this young girl and while she will never forget her young son she is doing her best to put his tragic death behind her. She's got a job, her house, her two children and she is doing her best."

An inquest into Andrew's death heard that experts at Manchester Children's Hospital found nothing that could account for his death.

Deputy coroner Carolyn Singleton said it was frustrating for everyone concerned that the medical profession could offer no explanation for the syndrome of sudden infant death. "We can only hope that in the future an explanation will be available to try and allay the trauma that parents suffer in these situations," she added.