A mother-of-three has admitted fraudulently claiming more than £33,000 in benefits.

Louise Simpson, 30, of Stanley Road, Gillingham, failed to tell the authorities her circumstances had changed and that she was living with a partner.

She continued to claim housing benefit, council tax benefit and income support for four years.

She pleaded guilty to nine charges of dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances when she appeared before Medway magistrates.

Simpson was given a six month sentence suspended for two years, ordered to do 300 hours unpaid work and to pay a victim surcharge of £80.

The prosecution was the result of a joint investigation by Medway Council and the Department for Work and Pensions. They will now attempt to recover the money.

The combined overpayment was £33,750.95. Of this total, £27,763.64 was fraudulently claimed from Medway Council and £5,987.31 from the Department for Work and Pensions.

Cllr Peter Hicks, in charge of community safety at Medway Council, said: “Cases like these send out a strong message to all benefits claimants.

“They must make sure they only claim what they are entitled to or they will face criminal action and have to pay back any money they have wrongly received.”