A Watford woman, who was put under pressure by her family to make a fraudulent loan application, has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Samina Khan, 34, obtained a £29,000 loan from Swift Financial services as a deposit for a home next to her family's in Durban Road.

Prosecutor Gavin Pottinger told St Albans crown court: "The application was in her mother's name, but with the defendant's employment details and phone number."

When questioned by the police on June 1 she said she had got into financial difficulties and felt under pressure from her family.

Khan pleaded guilty to obtaining money fraudulently. She had no previous convictions.

Defence barrister Annette Henry, said all the money had been paid back and that the offence had been out of character.

Judge Stephen Gullick passed an 8 week sentence suspended for 12 months with 12 months' supervision by probation officers during which she will attend a women's activity programme.