A fraudster who claimed £30,000 in benefits after inheriting more than a quarter-of-a-million pounds has been jailed for eight months.

A sheriff told Helen McNicol, 41, she had "wealth beyond the dreams of most people" as she continued to claim unemployment and housing benefit for more than two years.

McNicol, from Crieff, Perthshire, initially inherited almost £100,000 from the estate of her father after he died in 2007, but continued to pretend to the Department for Work and Pensions she only had £200 in the bank.

Perth Sheriff Court was told a further £200,000 had been inherited by her in respect of the sale of her father's holiday home.

The DWP began to investigate McNicol after getting an anonymous tip-off about her wealth.