A CON artist was yesterday jailed for a series of deceptions in which she lied about her qualifications and good character to get jobs.

Caroline Evans was branded a consistent and persistent confidence trickster by the judge, who jailed her for six months.

A court heard how the North Yorkshire mother-of-four had a bogus CV that boasted of educational and nursing qualifications.

Her teaching degree from Liverpool Hope University did not exist, but that did not prevent her being offered and taking posts in schools.

Evans once even worked as a £18,000-a-year primary school teacher when she was on paid sick leave from a job with a fire service.

She also lied about being ill to avoid a staff induction course – when she was really in court in Manchester facing fraud charges.

Evans, 38, was offered the job of head of psychology at Lady Lumleys School, in Pickering, North Yorkshire, in March 2004.

Claims that she had a psychology degree, a post-graduate education certificate and was a registered nurse were backed up by bogus certificates.

It was not until five months later that Evans’ lies began to unravel when the school received a tip-off about her background.

Officials were told she had been convicted in Manchester, and their checks also revealed that her qualifications were untrue.

The school called police, but it was three years before Evans was arrested – after she carried out a further three scams.

First, she lied about her nursing qualifications and criminal record to get a job with Foresight Residential Services, in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire.

Evans was employed as a care worker in 2005 and, on occasions, stayed overnight at the homes of elderly and vulnerable people.

In August the following year, Evans secured a job with the St John Ambulance service as a trainer and assessor, and later applied for a sales executive job.

Dan Cordey, prosecuting, told the court that the application included a tick box about previous convictions.

Evans said she had none.

In August 2007, she was arrested after officials were told Evans was barred from working with children for earlier assaulting a teenager.

Investigations revealed Evans also illegally claimed more than £1,000 in benefits while working for the St John Ambulance.

Deborah Sherwin, in mitigation, said most of Evans’ offending was at a time when she was involved in a violent relationship with a criminal.

She said Evans was ashamed about her behaviour and had not even told her children – three girls and a boy.

Evans, of Dondeen Avenue, Thirsk, admitted fraud and failing to notify a change in her circumstances.