Turriff benefits cheat ordered to carry out community service
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A TURRIFF woman who falsely claimed a total of £4,433 in benefits has been ordered to carry out 80 hours community service.
First offender Lyn Gordon (41), of 42 Forglen Crescent, pleaded guilty at Banff Sheriff Court to receiving the council tax and housing benefits as well as council tax discount over a period of almost three years by wrongly claiming she was a single mother when her in fact her partner, Alexander O’Neill, was staying with her.
The court heard that O’Neill, who was almost half her age, did not take his financial responsibilities very seriously and that Gordon ended up supporting him at times as well as her children.
The couple are also no longer together.
Gordon admitted making false statements to Aberdeenshire Council staff between October 5, 2007 and August 3, 2010, and receiving £3,365 in housing benefit and £394 in council tax benefit to which she was not entitled.
She also admitted telling a council employee that she was only person above the age of 18 living at her address during the same period, and as a result fraudulently obtaining a council tax discount of £674.
Defence agent Stuart Beveridge said: "Mrs Gordon was on her own when she first moved into the property with her two children, and her application for benefits was appropriate.
"Within a matter of weeks, she became involved with Mr O’Neill and should have informed the authorities. She accepts she did not do that.
"Mr O’Neill is about half the age of Mrs Gordon and has not taken his financial responsibilities very seriously.
"He was in and out of work. There were also difficulties in the relationship and he moved out and then back in.
"She was also supporting him at times as well as the children.
"She had repaid all the money in February before proceedings were raised against her, and she herself told the authorities last year of what had been going on.
"She is deeply ashamed that she got herself into this financial situation. She paid off what he owed by credit card, and is now struggling financially.
"This was a substantial amount of money out of the public purse, which she has now rectified.
"She is no longer with Mr O’Neill and is living alone."
Sheriff Marion McDonald told Gordon: "I take into account that you have made repayments, but taking benefits you are not entitled to is a very serious offence. I will impose an 80 hours community service order."
