A mother of eight has claimed she can’t work because she keeps getting chatted up by “big dirty perverts.”

Marie Buchan, who is from Birmingham in the UK, is known as the Octomum, because of her eight children aged between three and 15. She has appeared on UK TV multiple times, most recently to defend her decision not to work and to live on benefits to pay for her children’s lunch money.

However, following backlash about her attitude, she announced in August that she would be coming off welfare support and starting up her own mechanics business. She began a qualification, but says she is struggling to find work because of men hitting on her.

Buchan told the Daily Star: “A couple of garages approached me after seeing me on TV but as you talk to them more and more you see what they’re after.

“They’re not really after me working there, they’re looking for something more. I think they’re just dirty big perverts.

“You’ve got women in the police force, in the Army, we have the skills, it’s just that men see us as sex symbols.

“I’m not going to be able to get the experience I need in a garage full of men. But there aren’t any women mechanics in my area, so I don’t know where it’s going to come from.”

Marie has vowed to achieve her ambition and says that when she does she will put a stop to sexism in the industry.

“It’s always been my dream and women are always getting ripped off – I want to put a stop to that.”