A CON artist facing jail for a chequebook fraud was told to stop crying by a judge because her crocodile tears in the dock did not impress him.

Jayne Maughan sobbed loudly throughout most of the 30-minute Teesside Crown Court hearing until she was told to shut up by Judge Sean Morris.

The judge then adjourned the case to examine what he believes could be dubious claims made by the 40-year-old trickster to dodge a jail term.

She says she is waiting for a third and final round of fertility treatment in a few weeks - but she failed to convince Judge Morris.

"I'm not prepared to take anything you say on trust. You're a fraudster and a thief. I want the full picture and the truthful picture," he said.

"I am minded to impose a custodial sentence. What I want to know is whether the prison can make arrangements for your appointment.

"I want proof to be obtained of what you say. I want proof you have been for this treatment. I'm not saying you're not going to prison.

"I want enquiries to be made with the prison - if this treatment is genuine - if it is possible for them to get you to an appointment."

Maughan - jailed in the past for an identical scam, and once for robbery - wept as prosecutor Ian West outlined what she had done.

Her barrister, Richard Herrmann, began addressing the judge, when he stopped him, and said: "Can you be quiet please? I'm not impressed."

Maughan, of South Terrace, South Bank, Middlesbrough, claimed to have documents at home from the town's James Cook University Hospital.

She initially gave the wrong name of the hospital which is treating her, and had to be prompted by her partner in the public gallery.

Mr Herrmann told the court: "She has been undergoing IVF treatment, having no children of her own and having always wanted them.

"Her final chance for that has to be September this year because she will be 41 and that is the cut-off point for treatment on the NHS."

Maughan - a recovering alcoholic - stole cheques from a retired teacher's home and paid them into her own account to fund spending sprees.

The victim, who was also suffering from drink problems at the time, did not notice the £15,500 missing for several years, the court heard.

Maughan and her then partner had visited the pensioner in 2010, as her boyfriend was planning to move into his east Cleveland home.

Because of its untidy state and the victim's "shambolic" lifestyle, the couple said they would do some cleaning first, said Mr West.

Maughan found the chequebook and picked out cheques from various parts in an attempt to get away with the fraud for as long as possible.

When she was arrested in 2013, she told police she had been paid the money - the largest single sum was £5,000 - for "cleaning work".

Mr West said: "She said she he made repeated visits to the house, and this was his way of thanking her - with extravagant sums."

Maughan, who later admitted fraud when a handwriting expert proved the victim did not sign the cheques - will return to court next month.