Jail warning for woman who falsely claimed £12,000 of benefits

A 52-year-old woman was warned she could be jailed after obtaining £12,000 of benefits to which she was not entitled.

Belinda Mackay of St Margaret’s Road, Inverness appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday and admitted two charges of social security fraud due to a failure to notify that her partner was employed.

The sums involved were £10,000 of employment support allowance and £2,000 of housing and council tax benefit between May, 2014, and August, 2016.

No details of the offences were given by fiscal depute David Morton as Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood wanted a background report. He told Ms Mackay that all options, including prison, were open to the court.

Defence solicitor Marc Dickson said he would reserve his comments until November 10 when his client re-appeared for sentence.