Benefit fraud trial for veteran delayed

The trial of a northeast man charged with receiving benefits while fighting in a war zone may have to be postponed.

Former British Army soldier Alan Duncan joined the fight against Islamic State in Syria as a volunteer during tours spanning more than three years.

Yesterday the 51-yearold appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court charged with fraudulently receiving a pension from Veterans UK.

He is accused of receiving £15,200 between September 2013 and October 2017 after failing to tell the armed forces’ pension scheme about a change of circumstances, which caused him to no longer suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that would have affected his pension eligibility.

Duncan, of Northfield Place, Lhanbryde, denies the charge, and is due to go on trial later this year.

Yesterday his defence solicitor Ben Thom told the court items including memory discs, CCTV footage and other media were still to be examined.

He added: “This is a sufficiently complex case that warrants exceptional status that makes it eligible for legal aid.

“However, it is yet to be granted.”

A further hearing was scheduled for next month to determine whether a debate will need to be held in order to settle legal arguments. “This is a sufficiently complex case”