Round-upofcriminalcases calling at Forfar

An Angus woman has been warned to expect an unpaid work order after committing a near-£7,500 benefit fraud.

Gemma Macalister from Arbroath has paid back thousands of pounds since falsely obtaining housing benefit, income support and tax credits between 2013 and 2015.

The 23-year-old, of Glenogil Drive, had previously pled guilty to failing to declare that she was living with and receiving economic support from her partner.

The court heard the young mum was deeply ashamed of her actions.

She appeared before Sheriff Derek Reekie at Forfar, who was told the accused had been making monthly three-figure restitution, but that more than £2,600 remained outstanding.

He told Macalister: “I recognise you continue to make repayment at quite a significant rate and that is to your credit.

“The court will have regard to that, but given the nature of this offence and the sums involved, the court also needs to look at an appropriate penalty beyond just paying the money back.”

He deferred sentence on Macalister until March 1 to obtain a supplementary social work report looking particularly at the issue of the accused’s suitability for unpaid work.

Also at Forfar: Christopher Byrne, 30, of High Street, Kirriemuir, was fined a total of £800 after he admitted breaching the peace in the town on May 1 last year and assaulting his partner by spitting in her face.

The court heard the pair had argued in the early hours after Byrne stayed out late during the Angus town’s Bon Fest weekend.