A benefits cheat has been spared from being sent straight to prison because of her children and sick father.

Hairdresser Tracey Bowyer claimed nearly £25,000 in housing and council tax benefits from Horsham District Council over two years.

She failed to disclose that she married James Hudson, a property developer, while on holiday in the Turks and Caicos Islands in the West Indies.

The mother-of-three also failed to reveal that she had tucked away more than £13,000 in an undeclared bank account.

Bowyer, 38, of Hurst Road, Horsham, claimed housing benefit for a house in Eversfield Road, Horsham.

But she was not living in the property, which was rented from a housing association.

Bowyer was found guilty of seven charges of benefit fraud but was cleared of two further charges after a trial at Hove Crown Court last month.

The jury was told that she cares for her father who is critically ill with cancer as well as her children aged ten, seven and four.

Judge Anthony Niblett yesterday gave her a 12 month prison sentence suspended for two years.

She must do 250 hours unpaid community work and pay £5,000 towards prosecution costs.