£10k benefit cheat avoids jail
Brian Hossack • Published 16 Jul 2011 12:00
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A BENEFIT cheat who banked almost £10,000 in illegal payments has narrowly avoided a prison sentence.
Martin Shand, 46, told benefit bosses he lived alone in Greenock's Huntly Drive while actually living with his wife - who was also earning a salary while working in a full-time job.
Shand received £9,697 he was not entitled to through the fraud, with his crime only discovered after traces on bank accounts and phone bills revealed his wife was also living at the address.
The 46-year-old was warned he had come extremely close to jail when he admitted the offence at Greenock Sheriff Court this week.
Ordering him to carry out 200 hours of community service, Sheriff Derek Livingston said: "The amount of money involved here and the fact you continually tried to make excuses for your conduct made me think carefully about whether you should be sent to prison.
"It is with hesitation that I make the decision to allow you the opportunity of community service."
Depute fiscal Pat Callendar explained how Inverclyde Council began an investigation after receiving information from a number of informants telling them Shand was residing with his partner while his benefit claim said he lived alone.
She added: "Checks were done with British Telecom, banks and loan companies which confirmed a woman also lived with the accused at this address. He continued to deny this, but bills and documents providence evidence to the contrary."
Defence solicitor Gerry Keenan said Shand appreciated the seriousness of his crime, adding: "He has been making repayments for the last two years and I would ask this to be taken into account."
Shand, of Skye Road, Greenock, pleaded guilty to saying he lived alone when he was living with his partner and receiving Job Seekers Allowance totalling £9,697, all between 1 August 2005 and 4 December 2008.
This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 16 Jul 11
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