Holiday pics gave away benefit con

A Dundee woman caught falsely claiming £20,000 in child tax credit after she put family holiday photos on Facebook has been placed under two court orders.

Dundee Sheriff Court had heard cleaner Joanna Pawlicka spent more than five years claiming benefits to which she was not entitled.

An investigation was launched after the benefits agency was given a tip-off Pawlicka was living with her husband Dawid Borucki in the city’s Fintry Road and he was working full time.

Mr Borucki claimed they did not live as a married couple and said he mainly lived in his van during the claim period.

He said he would sometimes give his wife his laundry and did not consider their period together in London to be family holidays.

The court previously heard an HMRC investigation discovered Mr Borucki had continued to list his wife as next-of-kin and used her home as his address.

Depute fiscal Marie Lyons told the court: “The accused was receiving his wages into her bank account and used it to pay the bills and expenses.

“Had she reported her partner to be still living with her she would no longer have been entitled to benefits.

“The DWP received information he was living with her as husband and wife. They married in 2009. He said they tried numerous times to reconcile but it never worked out.

“He said he occasionally stayed a couple of nights or weeks but it was volatile and they fell out.”

She said: “He confirmed his wages would go to her bank account and then she would give him his wages.

“He would have meals with her and the girls.

“His mobile phone was in her name.

“Despite all the evidence produced, he continued to deny they were living together as husband and wife.”

Pawlicka, 35, admitted fraudulently claiming £20,000 between 2013 and 2018.

Solicitor Anika Jethwa explained £2,150 had been paid back and she is continuing to make payments.

Sheriff Alastair Carmichael placed her under supervision for 15 months and a 10pm to 7am restriction of liberty order for three months.

She was also given 120 hours of unpaid work.

Pawlicka