A WOMAN has been jailed after fraudulently buying goods in her husband's name for a man in Nigeria who she met online.

Jane Pope, 56, of Westmorland Road, Hensingham, Whitehaven, admitted six counts of fraud by false representation after using her husband Michael's bank details to buy items to the value of £324.29.

The court heard Mrs Pope had ordered 18 pairs of underwear, a bluetooth speaker, DVDs, children's books and sweets on her husband's bank card.

Mr Pope contacted the police in May when he saw the transactions which he had not authorised and knew nothing about.

A victim impact statement read out in court on behalf of her husband said: "I pay for everything and I do not trust her. It's affected my health. I do not want compensation paid as she has very little money of her own."

Prosecutor Diane Jackson said: "It is a breach of trust. She has taken his card with the intention of providing items to this male in Nigeria."

Pope had been given a 180 day prison sentence, suspended for two years, in March last year, after sending £11,500 from her husband's bank account to the same man in Nigeria.

The latest offences began just over two weeks after Pope had been handed the suspended prison sentence.

A probation report read out in court said Pope was "very isolated" and had been working to build her confidence, which she "significantly suffers with".

It also said there was "significant concern" with her ability to cope in a prison environment.

The court heard Pope suffers with mental health problems and has indicated suicidal thoughts.

The report said contact with the individual is still continuing and a custodial sentence may be the only way to break this contact.

Claire Kirkpatrick, defending, said the order was in its infancy when the offence took place.

She said there had been no criminal offending since May last year.

The court heard Pope "accepts she has often been played" but that "it replaces what she doesn't get at home".

"It's a destructive process. She lives a life online that isn't reality," the solicitor said.

The court heard that Pope finds it very difficult to make friends and she had fallen foul of "what was clearly a scam".

"She isn't in a position to stop that relationship," Mrs Kirkpatrick said.

Magistrates said only a custodial sentence could be considered.

Pope was given two sentences of 120 days to be served consecutively, a total of 240 days in prison. She wept as she was led out of court.