A Moray mum fraudulently claimed over £6,000 in benefits.
Mother-of-three Emma Mackenzie admitted to two separate charges of false entitlement when she appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court yesterday.
Between February 18, 2013, and July 6, 2014, the 30-year-old lied to the local authorities, claiming she lived alone at her Elgin home when in fact she was staying with her husband Charles Harvey.
As a result of Mr Harvey’s undeclared presence, she was overpaid £5,124.63 in income support from the Department of Work and Pensions (DOWP).
She also knowingly claimed £1,098.18 in housing and council tax benefits from Moray Council which she was not entitled to.
All together, Mackenzie, of 42 Langstane Place, Elgin, dishonestly acquired £6,222.81.
Fiscal Kevin Corrins told the court that after a brief period in work, the Elgin mum is back on housing benefits and Moray Council is recovering £11-per-week, with £1,045.95 still outstanding.
With regard to the DfWP debt, he added that the full amount remained unpaid.
Defence solicitor Matthew O’Neill said that his client’s ambition was to pay back money towards both debts.
He added: “The money was provided to support the family.
“The partner, who was with Ms Mackenzie for different periods of time, was not really doing that and she used the money to look after her three children.
“She was in employment at the outset of this matter and when they found out about this matter, they ended that employment.
“She was due to start a new job today, but couldn’t because of her court appearance.
“She will be able to make repayments of £30-a-week.”
Sheriff John Halley deferred sentence on Mackenzie until September 8, 2016 for good behaviour and for further repayments to be made.
He told Mackenzie: “You pled guilty to two serious matters. You have a lot of money to repay and you know that.
“This was a case of overpayment and a failure to declare.
“What I will do is defer sentence for a long period to make sure you are making proper efforts to repay the sum.
“You have 12 months. I have to be clear, the court will expect to see progress in a year’s time.”