Published: Thursday, 24th April, 2008 4:30pm

£6k hospital benefit cheat

A BENEFITS cheat who claimed more than £6,000 while working as a nurse could face jail.

Hugh Meechan, 44, began receiving capacity benefit in 1999 after being signed off with a bad back.

But in June 2005 it was discovered he had been working as a bank nurse at Ravenscraig Hospital and was employed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Meechan was found to have claimed £6,174 in benefits during this time.

Yesterday, Meechan, of Lynedoch Court, Greenock, admitted the social security fraud at the sheriff court.

A report into his background advised that Meechan was unfit for community service because of his back complaint.

But he asked for a review of his fitness when Sheriff Vincent Canavan revealed he would be jailed if he could not do unpaid work. Sentence was deferred for further reports.

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