A CUNNING gran who lived a double identity to claim extra benefits has today been put behind bars.

For seven years Dawn Shackleton assumed the role of her sister after she left the UK for Kenya.

At the same time Shackleton, who pocketed £40,000 in the scam, was also being paid benefits in her own name.

The 46-year-old used the cash to pay off drug debts run up by her children, and give them handouts to keep their "heads above water".

The Shackletons gained notoriety when they were evicted from their house in Newcastle's West End, after racking up more than 250 convictions in a decade of disorder.

Brothers Gary, Paul and Mark made life a misery for innocent families on Coventry Gardens, Benwell, staging all-night parties, burgling houses, stealing cars and hurling drunken abuse at passers-by.

Head of the family Dawn, of McDonald Road, Benwell, was today jailed for two years after she admitted five charges of forgery and one of making a false statement.

Newcastle Crown Court heard when Shackelton's sister Julie Menzar left the UK for Africa in the 1990s another member of the family started claiming benefits in her name.

In 2000 Shackleton took over the scam, and continued pocketing cash meant for her sister until she was collared in 2007.

Prosecutor Roger Moore told the court: "The prosecution case is she has used the identity of her sister Julie Menzar to get benefits for herself.

"Miss Menzar had four children and they were also being claimed for by Miss Shackleton."

The court heard Shackleton filled out forms and sent a letter asking for a hardship handout in her sister's name.

If an official came to the door she would have assumed the identity of whichever claimant was asked for.

Over seven years she pocketed £25,000 in income support and £15,000 in council tax and housing benefits.

Jeff Taylor, defending, said Shackleton admitted taking two trips to America during the scam, but insisted they were paid for by her partner.

Mr Taylor said: "This is not a lady who has simply been living the high life, in reality she has been living a very poor existence, claiming benefits legitimately herself.

"There are other within her family group who unwittingly benefited from her having the extra cash.

"She has adult children who have debts of their own and their own problems with drug addiction and alcoholism.

"The children have been in and out of the legal system.

"She has been paying fines when she can and give them money to keep their head above water."

Mr Taylor said Shackleton "looks after" people around her and would give regular handouts to her children, who are often in and out of custody.

Mr Taylor accepted the family were "castigated and disliked" in the community.

Judge Michael Cartlidge jailed Shackleton for two years.

Judge Cartlidge said: "If an official from the DWP came to visit the defendant she could say she was either Mrs Menzar or Miss Shackleton, depending on what the inquiry was.

"It does appear the defendant has a troubled family and she has been, it seems, paying money to drug dealers on behalf of members of the family who owe them money.

"The defendant took over and administered the fraud in 2000.

"It required a certain amount of effort on her part, filling in forms and writing letters.

"She was only stopped when the DWP actually investigated and she was arrested."

It was after a tip off was made by a member of the public, the Department for Work and Pensions launched a probe into the 46-year-old grandmother's finances.

Mrs Menzar has not been back to the UK since she emigrated 15 years ago and had nothing to do with the fraud.

The case comes eight months after Shackleton and her family became the first in Tyneside to be evicted from a private rented property.

Your Homes Newcastle teamed up with Northumbria Police to take the action after getting fed up of their loutish behaviour.

In the run-up to their eviction, family members were arrested 40 times in just six months and officers were repeatedly called to reports of rowdy parties, lead being stolen from roofs and property being damaged.

Mark, 27, has a string of convictions for common assault and last did time in December.

Gary is the only member of the family to have an Asbo, which he was given after he repeatedly pestered passers- by on his push bike, riding to pubs and drinking.

The 20-year-old became notorious for tearing around in stolen cars and in August he was jailed for nearly two-and-a-half years at Newcastle Crown Court after pleading guilty to burglary and three counts of attempted burglary.

Gary admitted raiding a house on Ashbridge Gardens, Benwell. He also got 876 days, to run concurrently, for three attempted burglaries of houses on nearby Gowland Avenue on May 13.

In December 2006, Paul, 25, was convicted of affray.