A Moray benefits cheat has been given a year to repay more than £15,000 she fraudulently claimed or risk jail.
Donna McDonald swindled the sums from Moray Council and the Depertment for Work and Pensions (DWP) over four years.
The 45-year-old appeared in the dock at Elgin Sheriff Court yesterday after admitting that she failed to advise both bodies of changes in her circumstances, and raked in thousands she was not entitled to.
McDonald, of 53 Barlink Road, Elgin, received housing benefits of £13,168.20 and council tax benefits of £2,270.10 between July 1, 2009 and May 19, 2013.
Her solicitor, Matthew O’Neill, said his client had been making regular repayments since being found out but still had to pay back a “substantial” sum.
She has managed to return £3,700 to the council and DWP but still owes them approximately £12,000.
Mr O’Neill added that the repayments were coming from McDonald’s husband’s salary as she is a stay-at-home mum to their three young children.
Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov said the amounts that McDonald had illicitly pocketed could warrant a prison sentence.
But she said she was “reluctant” to imprison the accused before more compensation had been paid.
The sheriff added: “If inroads can be made towards full repayment, I would consider an alternative sentence to imprisonment.
“Maybe the accused should consider part-time work, as these are very large sums.”