A woman fraudster who pocketed thousands of pounds after neglecting to tell benefits officials that she no longer looked after three children has avoided a jail term.
Ellenmaire McLuckie, 33, claimed £4,000 in child tax credit and £2,000 in carer’s allowance, to which she was not entitled, after she failed to report to HMRC that she was no longer responsible for looking after the youngsters.
At Dunfermline Sheriff Court, McLuckie, of Elder Place, Rosyth, pleaded guilty to claiming £4,000 in child tax credit she was not entitled to betweenDecember 9 2011 and July 31 2012.
She also pleaded guilty to obtaining £2,000 in carer’s allowance between December 12 2011 and March 16 2012.
Solicitor-advocate Gordon Martin, defending, said: “She appears to have her life back together again. She is not drinking any more and sees the children regularly.”
Sheriff Craig McSherry sentenced McLuckie to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work under a community payback order.