A woman who falsely claimed more than £40,000 in housing benefit has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Anwar Mihsen of Alington Crescent, Kingsbury, just outside Fryent Country Park, failed to tell Brent Council that the two different properties she was claiming housing benefit for between 2006 and 2010 were actually owned by the father of her children Mohamed Jawad.

Instead, she provided tenancy agreements and benefit forms to the council which gave the name of the landlord as Modeef Limited.

Upon investigation, it was found that Modeef Limited was a dormant company that had never traded and was unknown at the registered address given for it.

Modeef Limited did not own either of the properties and had no assets to its name.

Additionally, Ms Mihsen was also asked about details of all her bank accounts, giving details of two accounts held in her sole name but failing to disclose the joint bank account she had with the father of her children.

It took a jury at Harrow Crown Court 55 minutes to convict her of all the charges.

Councillor Roxanne Mashari, Brent Council cabinet member responsible for welfare said: "In a time of budget cuts, when we are all desperately trying to make our money go further, it is disgraceful that someone would deliberately scam us out of over £40,000.

"In this climate, we cannot allow this amount of money to be wasted and so I am very pleased that it will be repaid to us."