A woman has been given unpaid work after claiming more than £4,500 in benefits she wasn’t entitled to.
Christina Haddow, 60, appeared in the dock yesterday for sentencing, having previously pled guilty over the matter.
Fiscal depute Sally McAuley said Haddow had failed to inform the department of work and pensions (DWP) that she was in paid employment, and had claimed £4,550.34 in employment and support allowance which she wasn’t entitled to.
She said Haddow had been employed as a payroll HR assistant between September 30 2014 and February 26 2015, and also in a clerical role between September 2 2015 and January 22 2016.
Ms McAuley added the offence came to light when the DWP received information from HMRC.
Defence agent Les Green said his client was only working 16 hours a week and did not realise she had to declare that.
He added: “She realises now the logic of why she has to declare. She wouldn’t be in this mess if she had declared.
“She comes here as a first offender at 60 years old.”
Sheriff Ian Wallace ordered Haddow, whose address was given as Lindum Street, Motherwell, to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.
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