Benefit cheat support worker to keep job after £10K theft
A BENEFITS cheat support worker who swindled almost £10,000 from the DWP and West Dunbartonshire Council has been allowed to continue working.
Cheryl Gaffney was given a two-year warning by the Scottish Social Services Council after she admitted to two counts of obtaining benefits she wasn’t entitled to totalling £9,014.41.
Between April 5, 2015 and April 20, 2016, she knowingly failed to notify the Jobcentre she was living with her partner, who was in paid employment – allowing her to bring gain £3,962 in income support.
While between May 5, 2014 and September 11, 2016, she failed to inform West Dunbartonshire Council she was living with her partner, and ripped off the council in housing benefit to the sum of £5,052.
Gaffney was ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work when she appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court in November last year, having already began paying back the eye-watering figure.
Her defence agent, Douglas Thomson, told the court at the time: “She’s a first offender, she’s got two children – one of school age, one not yet started nursery – she pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.”
He blamed the Dumbarton resident’s actions on her “rocky” relationship with her partner, telling the court he was in and out of their shared home.
However, the SSSC said the incident “constitutes a Let us know your views. Email letters@ eveningtimes.co.uk pattern of behaviour”.
It said: “Such behaviour represents a failure to demonstrate honesty and integrity that is expected and required of social service workers.
“Service users and the public have the right to expect that the social service workers, in whom they place their trust and confidence, work responsibly to uphold the law and not to engage in offending behaviour nor otherwise behave in a way in work or outside work which would call into question their suitability to work in social services.
“Your convictions demonstrate a disregard for the law and breach the trust and confidence placed in you as a social service worker.”
The statement added: “Although there was no direct harm to service users, benefit fraud has far-reaching implications and service users and the wider public may have been indirectly affected.”
Gaffney was praised for cooperating fully with SSSC investigation and apologising her behaviour.
Her employer is said to have “spoken positively” about her behaviour in the workplace.