Jail for mum of six who falsely claimed more than £100,000

Nicola Ann Sheddon will spend 16 months behind bars for her deceit

A 43-year old woman, who falsely claimed benefits of more than £100,000 over a six-year period, has been jailed for 16 months.

Nicola Ann Sheddon of Denfield Avenue, Cardenden, Fife, admitted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last month obtaining £61,544,41 from the Department of Work and Pensions between April 1 2008 and May 16 2014, for Income and Employment Support Allowance, between April 1 2008 and February 22 2009 receiving £12,636.26 from Edinburgh City Council in housing and council tax benefit and to obtaining £28,509.67 in housing and council tax benefit from Fife Council between October 5 2010 and May 4 2014 – a total of £102,690.34.

Sheriff Michael O’Grady QC was told by depute fiscal Aidan Higgins that the Department of Work and Pensions had received anonymous information that Sheddon was not a single parent, but had a partner living with her and contributing financially to the household.

The claims were made in respect of premises in Westerhailes Park and Broomfield Crescent in Edinburgh, and Hendry Crescent in Kirkcaldy.

Yesterday Sheriff O’Grady, who had deferred sentence for a background report, told Sheddon: “You will understand that this is a very serious matter. It is so in a number of respects. The deceit here may have been a simple one, but the sums are enormous and that deceit was practised for years.

“It seems to be thought in some quarters that crimes like these are victimless, that no one is hurt, that it is really just an accounting exercise. It is not. Far from it. Hard-working people pay taxes to Government and with that money governments struggle to provide services such as hospitals, pensions and benefits and they struggle, at least in part, because of people like you.”

Jailing Sheddon for 16 months, Sheriff O’Grady said he was reducing it from two years because of her early plea of guilty.

Defence solicitor Gayle Addison said her client was “extremely ashamed and extremely regretful” of her actions.

Sheddon, she added, had not used the money for high living or holidays, but to care for her six children. She had repaid between £2,500 to £3,000.

Ms Addison told Sheriff O’Grady that Sheddon’s 17-year old daughter, who was in court, would have to give up her job to look after her younger sisters.

When Sheddon was sentenced, both she and her daughter burst into tears.

It seems to be thought in some quarters that crimes like these are victimless, that no one is hurt, that it is really just an accounting exercise. It is not. SHERIFF MICHAEL O’GRADY

Nicola Ann Sheddon.