Mercy for £5,400 fraudster

A disabled man who fiddled social security out of almost £5,400 has been shown mercy by a sheriff.

Allan Woods, 62, illegally claimed the benefits from the Department of Work and Pensions for more than two years until he was rumbled.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard the accused, of Park Avenue in Johnstone, had raked in the dough by wrongfully collecting Employment Support Allowance by not informing social bosses about a change in his circumstances.

This meant he was trousering cash he was not entitled to in the period from August 2013 and September 2015, when his offence came to light and he was reported to police.

However, the accused who walks with the aid of a zimmer frame and uses an oxygen mask, yesterday pleaded guilty at Paisley Sheriff Court to the theft of public cash.

Defence agent Ian Brechnie told the court his client had was deeply ashamed over the offence and had expressed his remorse at being involved in the court proceedings.

The matter had been set down for a trial but Woods pleaded guilty to charges of knowingly failing to provide information in the correct manner to the DWP in that he did not inform them of a change in circumstances, which he knew would affect his entitlement to Employment Support Allowance, and whereby he obtained benefits of £5,370 to which he was not entitled.

Mr Brechnie said: “He has repaid the money in full and pleaded guilty to the charges. He understands that this is a serious matter involving public funds.”

Sheriff Seith Ireland told the accused he would deal with the offence by imposition of a fine.

He said: “You have pleaded guilty to a serious offence. You have repaid the money in full. I will deal with this by way of a £500 fine.”