An Aberdeen woman has gone on trial accused of falsely claiming more than £13,000 in benefits.
Lynn Riddell appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday, where she pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The 44-year-old is accused of swindling £12,280 in housing benefit and £1,194 in council tax benefits, between September 1, 2008 and December 5, 2014.
She is alleged to have deliberately failed to notify the city council that her son Greg Thomson, who lived with her, was in employment.
Yesterday Donna Slater, an investigations officer for the city council’s benefit fraud team, gave evidence on the first day of the trial.
Ms Slater told the court suspicions were raised about Riddell following a “pro-active operation” in partnership with supermarkets in the area.
She said they had cross-referenced the staff lists with benefit recipients and noticed a “number of anomalies” with Riddell’s claim history.
The court heard that the council had not been notified that Riddell’s son, Mr Thomson, was employed with Asda.
Ms Slater said they had subsequently obtained Mr Thomson’s wage history with the company.
Riddell, of 84 Sluie Drive, Aberdeen, had subsequently been interviewed under caution by Ms Slater and a colleague, the court heard.
Mr Thomson was then called into the witness box, where he confirmed he had worked part-time in the supermarket from 2008 – 2009, and earned about £350 per month.
He also said he later worked full time from 2009-2014, earning about £800 each month.
During this time, the installation engineer said, he had lived at home with his mother and had given her £100 a month for bed and board.
Sheriff Alison Stirling adjourned the trial until December.