A worker at the Royal and Ancient clubhouse in St Andrews narrowly avoided jail after she admitted fraudulently claiming almost £11,000 in benefits.
Single mother-of-four, Victoria Baird, who works behind the bar, told Cupar Sheriff Court she turned to crime in a desperate bid to buy Christmas presents for her children.
The 34-year-old, of Findlay Douglas Court in St Andrews, admitted fraudulently claiming £10,832.68 in income support, council tax and housing benefit between January 20, 2009, and May 16 last year.
She claimed the cash despite knowing she was not entitled due to her ongoing employment at the Royal and Ancient.
Last night a spokesman at the clubhouse said bosses were aware of Baird’s crime and had no plans to sack her.
After narrowly avoiding a jail term instead receiving a 240-hour community service order Baird told The Courier, “I got what I deserved.”
Baird insisted she had only started claiming the cash because an associate had downloaded child porn images on a mobile phone within her house.
As a result police swooped on the property and removed computer equipment along with all the children’s games consoles and mobile phones.
“Police took everything … it was just before Christmas and I felt under pressure to replace some of their toys,” she said after her appearance in the dock at Cupar Sheriff Court. It just spiralled out of control.”HonestBaird added that she had always been open and honest with the Royal and Ancient and said officials knew of her plight.
“I am glad not to be going to jail and plan to go back to work,” she added.
Solicitor Hilary Eldridge said Baird now regretted her involvement with the offences, but said she had been put in an “impossible situation” after a family member stumbled across appalling images downloaded by an associate she is no longer in contact with.
“Computers and games consoles were all removed from the family home and it was some considerable time before they were returned,” she told the court.
“The accused’s motivation was to try and get some money to help replace all the items that had been removed by the police and alleviate in some way a very stressful situation. She tells me it was almost a relief when she was caught.
“Ms Baird is willing to repay the money … and she continues to work on a part time basis at the Royal and Ancient.”
Mrs Eldridge pointed out that Baird is being treated for depression, but that she is determined to improve her life.
“She is currently studying for an Open University degree in psychology and is approaching the end of her first year,” the defence agent continued. “She accepts what she did was wrong, she knows it was wrong and is not trying to hide from that fact.”
Before sentencing, Sheriff Charles Macnair asked if anybody had any “objections” to him dealing with the case given that he is an “extraordinary member” of the R&A.
When both solicitor and Crown confirmed they did not, he said, “This was a very substantial fraud over a lengthy period of time. Benefit fraud is an offence which is relatively easy to commit and difficult to detect.
“The courts must be seen to be dealing with this in a firm manner. The sum involved would often attract an immediate custodial sentence particularly as it was a deliberate fraud but I take into account the fact that you are a single parent and have responsibility for your four children.”
When contacted by The Courier, a spokesman at the Royal and Ancient said, “The club is aware of this situation. It is a domestic issue and one unrelated to her unemployment.”
