Council worker in benefits fraud

A Perth and Kinross Council employee obtained thousands of pounds in a benefits scam stretching over more than two years.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that 45-year-old Claire Sinclair, of Mitchell Street, Crieff, had been working with the local authority’s Education Department.

But she told Department of Work and Pensions officials that she was unemployed - and had no income.

As a result, she was paid £5000 in Income Support to which she wasn’t entitled, between December 27, 2013, and December 26, 2014.

She had originally been accused of pocketing £5485.39p but had a guilty plea accepted to the lesser amount.

Sinclair, said to be suffering from MS, subsequently received a further £5000 in Carers’ Allowance after failing to inform the department of a change in her circumstances which she knew would affect her eligibility for that benefit.

That offence took place between December 3, 2012, and January 11, 2015.

It had previously been alleged that she had been paid £6613.10p but the sum was amended to £5000 at her latest court hearing, held on Thursday last week.

A not guilty plea was accepted to a further charge of receiving £927, again in Income Support, between November 24, 2012, and January 25 the following year.

She also had her not guilty plea accepted to a fourth charge of obtaining Housing Benefit and Discretionary Housing payments.

Solicitor Cliff Culley said: “She is a person of previous good character and there are significant mitigating factors to put before the court.

“She suffers from MS, which was a factor in relation to this matter.”

Sheriff Gillian Wade said she wanted a background report on Sinclair before passing sentence.

She will discover her fate on April 12, when the background to the charges will be given.