A mother-of-four who pocketed £20,000 in benefits she was not entitled as she was living with her partner has been handed a six-month curfew order.
Kirsty Benn claimed the Universal Credit cash after failing to inform the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) she was staying at her home with partner Mark Campbell.
Benn, 35, was caught out following a DWP investigation that looked into her bank account and phone records.
The benefits cheat pleaded guilty to embezzling £20,000 over a two-year period when she appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last month.
Sentence had been deferred for reports and she returned to the dock at the city court today.
Solicitor Mary Moultrie said Benn, from Wallyford, East Lothian, was a first offender and that over the period where she committed the offence she had been in “an on off relationship” with Mr Campbell.
Ms Moultrie added: “Three of her children are very young and the family are in fairly dire financial straits. But through all this she has been a good mother.”
Sheriff Douglas Keir said: “I take on board that there was no intent but at the same time the responsibility lies with you in terms of updating your circumstances with the authorities.
“I do note from the report you recognise your responsibility for that and you feel the shame brought on your family by this.”
Benn was placed on a six-month restriction of liberty order whereby she must stay within her home address between 8pm and 7am.
Benn pleaded guilty to failing to give prompt notification to the DWP that her circumstances had changed in that she was living with her partner Mark Campbell and did obtain Universal Credit of £20,000 she was not entitled to between July 26, 2016 and May 31, 2018.
