A Napier mother who stole more than $300,000 in benefits she wasn't entitled to has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Maureen Kempton last month pleaded guilty to 31 charges of benefit fraud and one charge of wilfully omitting information with the intention to mislead.

She claimed solo-parent benefits for more than 20 years after reconciling with her estranged husband.

NZME. reports Kempton appeared today at Napier District Court via video link from prison, with Judge Geoff Rea sentencing her to three years and two months behind bars for the fraud.

He says aside from professional fraudsters, Kempton's crime was 'among the highest figures that has been before the courts'.