Benefits cheat used cash for wedding bills

£9k helped pay for daughter’s big day

An east Perthshire man cheated the benefits system out of almost £9,000 to help pay for his daughter’s wedding.

Thirty-three-year-old Stephen Wilkie, of Rashiehall Cottage, Balbeggie felt he “couldn’t let her down,” Perth Sheriff Court was told.

But his fraudulent actions, which took place over a 15-month period, were eventually uncovered when he finally told the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) he had taken up full-time employment.

Their investigations revealed he had been paid £5,591.61p in Income Support to which he wasn’t entitled between May 15, 2014, and March 25, 2015.

He then received £3,373.40p in Carers’ Allowance between May 19, 2014, and August 2, 2015, again by failing to tell them of a change in his circumstances which he knew would affect his entitlement to benefit.

A not guilty plea was accepted to a third charge of obtaining Housing Benefit totalling £418.08p between August 18, 2014, and January 1, 2015, by the same means.

Sentence had been deferred while a background report was obtained.

Solicitor Pauline Cullerton told the court: “He took a chance - he thought he wouldn’t get found out but ultimately found himself before the court.”

He had been working for an agency and his hours were “somewhat erratic.” When he obtained full-time employment, he informed the DWP and the offences came to light.

He told the accused: “These were actions of deliberate dishonesty and you candidly admitted that to the social work department.

“Your candidness at that stage, however, can’t excuse the initial criminality.”

The only reason was for him to obtain extra money - it hadn’t been “an oversight.”

Because of the level of funds he had fraudulently obtained, it would be open to impose a jail sentence.

But taking everything into account, the sheriff was satisfied the custody threshold hadn’t been reached.

Wilkie was ordered to complete 225 hours of unpaid work over the next 12 months.