A Napier mother who stole more than $300,000 from the Government has been sentenced to three years in prison.
Maureen Kempton, 55, pleaded guilty to 31 charges of benefit fraud and one charge of willfully omitting information with the intention to mislead on November 5.
She appeared yesterday at Napier District Court via video link from prison, before Judge Geoff Rea sentenced her to three years and two months behind bars for the fraud totaling $335,174.31.
Judge Rea said aside from professional fraudsters Kempton's crime was "among the highest figures that has been before the courts [of New Zealand]".
Kempton's fraudulent activities started in 1992 when she applied for a domestic purposes benefit, after separating from her husband a few days prior.