An anonymous tip-off resulted in a Gravesend woman being given a suspended prison sentence for illegally claiming more than £22,000 in housing benefits.

Helen Gallagher, of Baltic Wharf, Gravesend, pleaded guilty to fraud at Dartford Magistrates' Court and received a 120-day prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Gallagher, who failed to tell Gravesham Borough Council she was renting her home from the father of her child, must also re-pay the £22,251 she received in benefit as well as £262 in court costs.

The court heard how Gallagher claimed from August 2005 to June 2009 that her child was not related to her landlord.

Information was then received from Gravesham Borough Council’s hotline that her landlord was in fact the father of her child.

Magistrates said this was a serious offence which has led to "public money being taken out of the public purse".

Later, Cllr Adrian Warburton, cabinet member for transformation, said: "Housing regulations state that if a tenant or child is related to their landlord they cannot receive housing benefit.

"Miss Gallagher has been caught and prosecuted thanks to yet another anonymous tip-off from a member of the public.

"We have received a 100 per cent increase in tip-offs from our hotline, which sends a clear message to benefit cheats that people are watching and will report them."

Anyone with any information about benefit cheats can phone the Gravesham council hotline on 01474 33 72 31.