This is an interesting story, but one piece of information seems to be missing. Who forced this woman to have eight children?

Mark Wilson, Bristol, England

The real crime is to have 8 children. In an overpopulated world, the first child can be for free. The next one should be taxed and the third double tax, and so on. This woman should have had her fallopian tubes sealed a long time ago.

m wilson, bidache, france

Child Benefit, several hundred pounds, income support/unemployment benefit several hundred pounds, no rent, no council tax. 8 children by how many fathers? Oh dear, why should we feel sympathy? After how many children is it all right to steal? That said, 5 months is a bit steep.

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

Ms Reid is avoiding some facts. Yes, Waugh has previous convictions for dishonesty, according to The Scotsman, and 'was jailed for four months for another offence ' which is not defined. It's not as simple as it looks.

Jane, Hereford, UK

The law in this country punishes the children of the poor and protects the powerful well connected wrongdoer. It always has and it always will.

John, LONDON, ENGLAND

Normally the press is about putting more people in prison (with justification on serious motoring offences) and longer sentences so I think it is good to read an article about somebody who should not have been imprisoned. I am sure there are many more such people who shouldn't be in prison

Chris, Birmingham,

She is a criminal. She must face the consequences of her actions. If you steal/defraud you should be dealt with by the justice system with no regard for sob stories.
Why should her neighbours bear the cost of her and her family? They pay enough tax already for the social services etc.

Chris, Portsmouth,

Perhaps sex education lessons focusing on birth control would be appropriate. Why does society have to keep picking up the tab for these fools.

June, Salford, UK

Heart wrenching story. Whatever happened to discretion from the authorities in extreme human circumstances. After all, celebrities such as Naomi Campbell walk away with 200 hours community service - where's the justice!

Ruby Vytelingum, London,

You have missed the point Mr Murphy. It is unrealistic to believe the welfare always works and that there can never be any need to steal in our society. The tragedy is that the welfare system does fail, and when it fails it is often the people who needed it most that are blamed and punished first

Oliver, Australia,

Don't have 8 kids if you can't support them. Quite simple really.

David, Beijing,

I agree with a lot of the comments here, this woman is clearly not an example for anyone but locking her up solves nothing. What makes me sick is how people readily condemn this woman for stealing a pittance yet irresponsible bankers will walk away from the credit crunch mess untouched.

John, Limerick City, Ireland

I hope she finds some stability and happiness, either on her own or with a man who loves her. I hope her children are well cared for by her or by adoptive parents. I hope the people who lost money get it back. I hope that we who post to this thread never face the same problems.

Frank Upton, Solihull,

People have not idea what it is like to be struggling on benefits. At best she may be on £1500 - £2000 per month - nowhere near $6000.

It is so easy to be judemental - but really - try to think what this poor woman's life must be like. I would not swop with her. God help her - the state won't.

Alex, Belfast,

The best thing they can give her is contraception.

Robert Miles, southend, UK

The social ills will all be put right when we get a Labour government.

eric campbell, harrogate, uk

Some people don't think first, contraception is the key here, in this day and age there is no reason why anyone should be in this situation I have chosen not to have any kids until I am financially able - if others had this outlook no doubt this problem wouldn't arise.

Jo, Manchester, UK

These people did not break Britain, the peole in power saw that, by refusing to adapt aand change and then step aside.
It is obvious what the Tories are planning with the published document about "forget the North", That was released to gauge public opinion. They have done it once.

Mark, Yorkshire,

If she couldn't support 8 children then she should not have had them.

Chris, Ashford, Middx, England

If one readers' calculation is correct, this woman receives the equivalent to roughly $6000 ( dollars) a month. My husband and I earn far less than that, pay our mortgage, feed & clothe our 5 children, take nice holidays & receive absolutely no help from our government. ? What is her problem - math?

Maggie, Parksville Canada,

The crass irresponsibility of Mrs Waugh who, with apparently no income, decided to produce eight children, beggars belief. One hopes that in prison she will be unable to produce any more, though with do-gooders like Melanie Reid around I wouldn't guarantee it.

Peter Cressall, La Lucila, Argentina

"No one ever does this kind of "crime" willingly." SusieQ - what planet are you living on? People do crimes like this all the time. Rather than seeking legitimate help (welfare, the fathers, her family, her grown-up kids), this woman chose a lazy, selfish, short cut - not something to be lauded.

EW, Southampton, UK

I have spent time inside Cornton Vale for non payment of fines as a result of protesting. Anyway, the point is that whilst inside every single women I met were there for economic 'crimes'. They all had mental health problems and all had been vicitms of abuse. Help not prison.

Rosie, Glasgow, Scotland

1. If can't do the time, don't do the crime.
2. She had income.
3. She's been jailed for assault.
4. She is just the kind of person who should be in jail.

No sympathy.

Anyway, what has her sex got to do with it?

Joe B., geneva, switzerland

Isabel, London - It's people of this ilk who broke Britain making it the land of no responsibility where you take/do what you like and it's never your fault. The land of having too many kids and expecting law-abiding, hard-working people to pay for them. The big picture looks pretty ugly right now.

Emma, Bristol, UK

And how do you think her children behave when she is their example? My sympathy is for her neighbours, not for her.

Pauline Renton, Camberley, UK

A benefits calculation for this lady shows that assuming her housing costs are £99 a week and all her children are dependant, but ignoring disability payment for one child, she receives £596.97 a week Did Melanie check this before she wrote her article.

Carlene E Lee, Geddington, Northants

However you look at this, it is a sad situation. Will this national publicity benefit this poor family ? How about some sort of rescue package co-ordinated by The Times ?

richard, sale, england

Most people with large families and no jobs manage to take care of them on what the state provides.
Why, exactly, should she not eventually suffer some consequences when what is clearly a whole lifetime of bad choices eventually crosses the line into criminality? Is that not WHY that line is there?

S. Evans, Glasgow,

Well then Workhouses and Spading !. Or properly funded welfare state. Another 18 months of the credit crunch & a Tory government. It will be Spading and Workhouses. Only joking no way could the government could fund Workhouses.

RSBridgman, Havant, Hampshire

I'm also appalled by these ignorant comments and views that got this women in trouble, in the first place.

It is this mantra by the ignorant to molly coddle people when they do something wrong, from childhood. People learn that they can get away with anything and carry on doing so til eventually...

Jeff, Weybridge,

At last the courts are prepared to stand up and send out the clear message that crime does not pay! This should be the start to make it clear if you commit a crime then the penalty is prison. It might make people think twice about stealing credit cards and use them fraudulently. Lets see more of it!

Frank, Manchester,

I dont know anyone that can afford to feed 8 children! What are people living off benefits and struggling to make ends meet thinking when having children in the first place? This is about a total lack of self control and nothing more. Stealing is wrong, it is irrelevant what the money was spent on.

Kenner, Cheltenham, England

She was stealing to feed her family eh, not like she was buying clothes for herself eh. Well where did all the benefit money she gets for having eight kids she can in no way support?

Heartless? Get over it! Do you want to be mugged by kids who think it ok to steal to get what they want?

Dan, London, UK

Isabel, London.
I recommend that you read the Casy Report, Engaging Communities in Fighting Crimes and you will see the 'bigger picture' where liberal excesses of tolerance and sympathy for people of this ilk has gotten society.
The worm is turning at long last.

Paul W, Swindon, Wilts

I feel dreadfully sorry for this lady, in such an impossible situation. While it seems she could have made better choices, we just don't know... But many details are missing: a custodial sentence in this situation is extraordinary. How many warnings and suspended sentences don't we know about?

AJ, Oxford, UK

As always there is too little info to know whether how to apoprtion blame between mother and her partner. But we all know we live in a society that hates mothers. Giving her a prison sentence will not resolve the issues and only punishes the children too. Our legal system needs an overhaul.

H, London,

Let's have a little honesty here. Some of her 'children' are grown up. The others are all provided for by the state.

If this woman hadn't wasted the money intended for her children's food, there would have been no reason to steal her neighbour's credit cards and cause them a lot of problems.

Katie, London, UK

If I were the victim of this woman's theft I would be quite angry, however I must say I do sympathise with her to some degree. Obviously she felt that theft was necessary and as a father myself I would do anything to keep my daughter fed and clothed.

Ben, London, England

The former partner should be contributing to help provide for the children, prison is a bad option. It would be cheaper to get her to do community service than to send her to prison. I agree she should pay for what she did but surely getting her to pay the money back would be far better all round.

Philippa, Whitstable,

Such smugness from the readers. I hope you never get to feel the despair, the terror of desperation that this woman felt. No one, but no one, ever does this kind of "crime" willingly. Her children needed to be fed, and she fed them. She should be lauded, not condemned.

susieQ, Melbourne,

John, Egremont, who says that 'femnism does require you to take responsibility'.

What has this got to do with feminism? Is this woman blazing through the country with her feminist ideas and feminist ideals?

Even if she was - this is about severe punishment and not about justice.

kim, london,

I'm appalled by some of the ignorant comments to this story. Clearly these people have been lucky enough to never have to face bringing up children alone on state benefits. These children face separation from each other and their only real parent. The punishment does not fit the crime. Horrifying.

Clare, Newcastle,

The woman has made a life choice by having so many children she cannot afford to raise. Mostly in these circumstances the children also grow up to be the same, so the sooner benefits are paid to those who really deserve them, not to those who have kids to get benefits, the better.

B J Deller, Marbella, Spain

How depressing it is to witness such an increase of witch hunt type comments written by the supposed intelligent demographic that is The Times reader. This isn't Broken Britain so much as Bitter Britain with no tolerance, no sympathy and no ability to see the bigger picture.

Isabel, London,

Prison is emphatically NOT the answer! Anxious,depressed,unable to cope - how will gaol solve anything? Yes, people in dire circumstances do cope without stealing - monies should definitely be repaid @ help given with budgeting,daily routines @ carers breaks.
Justice not vengeance for her @ family

Phoebe, Manchester, England

Five months, She will be out in two providing she doesnt run amok. With life there are consequences. The woman stole two credit cards and breached the trust of her neighbours. So what if the ex partner was abusive. Feminism does require you to take responsibility for your actions, a bit like men.

John, Egremont,

Irresponsible procreation leads to inadequate parenting & crime. She's clearly struggling so kids into care may be the help they need. Sterilise this woman, help her back onto her feet & do the same with the others who produce unwanted kids that they can’t adequately care for. Make this a priority!

G Cook, Wokingham,

What about the people she stole from? They might have been struggling single mothers themselves, placed in a hard situation until they could get their banks to put the stolen money back...

I'm sure there are charities she could have approached- particularly having a child with a disability.

louise , London,

Although I don't believe prison was the best answer to this problem, she did commit a crime and deserves a punishment. Why couldn't she have gone out to work - also she must have been getting a huge amount in various benefits especially with a disabled child - where has all that money gone?

susie, hove, e.sussex

I read yesterday about a posh southern lad who crashed his car in to a house while drunk causing 100 000 pounds worth of damage, ran away and lied to police. Did he get a custodial sentence? Of course not because he is from a frightfully nice family. The posh and rich still run this country.

Vic, York, UK

See was jailed for the assault! No doubt to run concurrently with the theft sentence.
What happened to the child support/allowances/maintenance she's been entitled to over the years?
She chose to have 8 children.
As usual, the focus is on the perpetrator, what about the victims of her crimes?

Paul W, Swindon, Wilts

What a lot of bleeding heart nonsense! She committed a crime and should be punished. Having so many children may not have been a crime itself, but it was certainly her choice!

If she cannot feed her children without stealing, care is the best place for them!

Thomas, London,

There would be tax credits with disability elements for 3 year old, income supprt, child benefit, housing benefit?, council tax benefit, she could ask the social services for help , and I see a standard abusive man was thrown in the defence. I doubt this was the first offence hence the sentence

phil, brixham,

This lady is looking after a disabled child. If she was a working mother her child would be in specialist care which would be costing the taxpayer. Why not pay her a livable wage for being the primary caregiver of someone with a disabiltiy instead? How awefully sad.

Linda, London, UK

She'll be on more money than many families who have working parents. No council tax, rent paid, benefits, discounts....

The money was there to pay for food. She's spent it on other things it's clear. That - plus an assault.... Harsh but not that unfair.

Save your pity for those who deserve it.

John, reading, uk

Unfortunate and sad for her children, but how can you say that she was failed by the government? Did she even try to get help before stealing? There is absolutely no reason in this day and age for children to go hungry, there are support services available, but you have to access them yourself.

Coco, London,

Tragic and appalling.The lawyer though, doubtless funded by the public purse through look legal aid; needs to take a long good hard look at him or herself. How on earth the lawyer failed to persuade the court of the merits of a non custodial sentance is beyond me. I trust an appeal has been lodged.

Alta Blue, London, UK

In my opinion, one answer to the question asked by Melanie Reid in the penultimate paragraph of her article is sterilisation.

A lttle too late for Shona Waugh, who doubtless has been kept by taxpayers most of her life and doubtless, will continue so to do.

Patricia Thornton, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

I just feel dreadfully sorry for her, although I can't condone anyone having eight children in this day and age it's totally irresponsible. However they are here and the pressures must have been enormous for her to steal. Try living on State Benefits before you slag off her actions. She needs help

Susan, Crewe, Cheshire

Of course she should not be in prison IF first time? but knowing the pressure magistrates are under NOT to put people in prison AND mags. will be very aware re children BUT-there is something missing here-like any previous convictions?

Offence is worse by steailing from freinds and credit cards

mike, gloucester, england

I have to disagree, I think it is criminal neglect to bring children into the world knowing that you are not in a position to look after them and to provide for them. maybe she should have been a bit more responsible to begin with. Hopefully the kids will get the care they deserve.

jockney, york,

Forgetting, for the moment, the in's and out's of this whole sorry episode, can I say what a well written piece this is by journalist, Melanie Reid! How refreshing to read someone who's not trying to be too clever but still retains a mildly sarcastic tone without being judgemental. Brilliant !

barry mann, Harrow, UK

But what about all the mothers who decided not to have more than two children. And indeed where are the fathers? One problem that such women getting lost is the feeling in society that we are all equal. I feel that and conclude that my help is not needed as it would have been 50 years ago.

brian lewis, Manila, Philippines

Are the two grocery stores in misery after the 2 to 3 hundred quid?

Don Quixot, Groningen, The Netherlands

A very sad but not unique story I'm afraid. Hopefully she has learned her lesson, and someone with a little extra cash will help the girl out after reading the story. Why not? Hey, somebody in her home town reading this, help the poor girl out of this jam. Come on, she bought food. Good luck Shona

Ed Small, Greenville, North Carolina, usa

I have children live on barely enough each week. I would not steal credit cards from neighbours but have in past slipped 500g of cheese into the pushchair. I manage to make it work though by shopping for reduced food. A local supermarket throws away loaves of bread and I hang around for it

Bev, bath, uk

Why did she have eight children if she can't afford to feed them?

Charles, Belfast, UK

Generations of women have raised 8 children without resorting to crime.
She makes MULTIPLE irresponsible choices and then expects our sympathy .
And what about the father(s) of these children?.
Let me guess- they don't pay any support........

Eileen, Gloucester,

What if the people she stole the credit cards from were also hard up with children. A firm message needs to be sent that however bad your situation, you cannot improve your lot through causing the misery of others.

Dom Sanders, Leeds,

Terrible. But please remember that men's prisons are equally full of men who couldn't cope in similar cirumstances. What we need to do is to build a better society

Gareth Jones, Cardiff,

What happened to and where were child benefit /income support/rent rebates/father's contribution/neighbours/family/social workers.Her common sense?

David Kenny, Calgary, CANADA

There is no need to steal in our society, there is a welfare state and although not as generous as some, it is possible to look after a family on welfare. I have no sympathy.

Neil Murphy, cromer,