A mum of three who cheated benefits after receiving a "surprise" inheritance of almost £400,000 has been spared jail.

Amber Marshall was said to have ended up with the windfall in October 2021 following her estranged father's "unexpected" death and a subsequent property sale.

At the time, the 47-year-old was legitimately receiving both universal credit and housing benefit.

But instead of notifying Medway Council and the Department of Work and Pensions about her change in circumstances – as she was obliged to – Marshall was said to have "buried her head in the sand".

Maidstone Crown Court heard she spent her inheritance of £372,867 on friends, family, and buying herself a house, and by January 2023 she had just £5,000 left.

When her deceit finally came to light, she had dishonestly received benefits totalling £10,182.

Marshall, of Jeyes Road, Gillingham, later pleaded guilty to two offences of failing to notify a change in circumstances between September 2021 and May 2022.

At her sentencing hearing on Wednesday (March 13), the court was told that she had not spoken to her father for 16 years when he died.

Having expected to inherit his house, it was then discovered it was in her mother's name. She then sold the property, split the proceeds and gave Marshall her share.

Her barrister, Amelia Norman, told the court that Marshall "struggles with finances" and had behaved out of character.

"She was entitled to claim benefits, received the money unexpectedly as part of an inheritance and basically buried her head in the sand in terms of informing the authorities," the barrister said.

Explaining how the windfall was spent, Ms Norman added: "She purchased the property in which she lives now in January last year. The bulk of the money was spent on that.

"She also spent a significant part of the money on her children and went on holiday. She lent some money to friends in the sum of a couple of thousand, and when she moved into her property she had £5,000 of the inheritance left."

The court was told Marshall still receives benefits of £590 a month, from which she is left about £60.

The universal credit she falsely claimed has been repaid, while the outstanding housing benefit is being met through a payment plan.

Imposing an 18-month community order with 30 rehabilitation activity requirements and 120 hours of unpaid work, Judge Gareth Branston told Marshall: "I do not underestimate the impact of a loss of a parent even when you have lost contact for many years.

"But it must have been obvious that the authorities needed to know about the inheritance and you have admitted by your pleas that you were dishonest."

In deciding the appropriate sentence, the judge said he had taken her caring responsibilities and the delay in criminal proceedings into account.