School worker in £8,000 benefit fraud
Brian Hossack • Published 4 Jul 2011 12:00
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A WOMAN carried out a benefit fraud worth more than £8,000 while working at an Inverclyde secondary school.
Margaret Joyce, 37, banked income support payments for almost 13 months while employed at St Columba's School in Kilmacolm.
The first offender was warned that she could have easily gone to jail when she pleaded guilty to the offence at Greenock Sheriff Court - but escaped with a lengthy period of community service.
Joyce admitted illegally claiming benefits between 24 August 2009 and 14 September last year by failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions of a change in circumstances after she began work with the school.
The total amount of illegal benefits claimed by the 37-year-old amounted to £8,119.
Joyce, of Brookfield Road, Port Glasgow, pleaded guilty through defence solicitor Aidan Gallagher when the case in court last week.
Mr Gallagher said a repayment plan had been put in place for the accused to pay back the stolen cash over a set period of time.
He added: "She pleaded guilty to the offence at the first possible opportunity and in the fullness of time the amount will be completely repaid.
"These payments will go on for some time and so, apart from what the court imposes today, she will effectively face an ongoing punishment."
Sheriff Rajni Swanney told the 37-year-old that the amount of cash defrauded meant that the imposition of a prison sentence would have been merited.
She added: "This was a very serious matter and one that involved a sizeable sum of money. You could have easily gone into custody today for this offence.
"You are a first offender so, taking that into account, I consider I can deal with it by way of community service order."
Joyce was ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work.
This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 04 Jul 11
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