Sheriff tells £35,000 benefits fraudster he will not go to jail

A man who received more than £35,000 in benefits to which he wasn’t entitled was told he won’t face jail.

Ian Dick didn’t tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) he had separated from his wife, despite making a joint claim with her for income support.

He then failed to tell the DWP he had received £30,000 from the Railway Pension Scheme, or that he was getting regular pension payments.

As a result, he was paid £35,560.12 in Income Support between July 2007 and August 2012.

But Sheriff Alistair Brown at Dundee Sheriff Court told him he would not face prison.

Dick, 63, of Brambletye, St Fillans, Crieff, pleaded guilty on indictment to two charges under the Social Security Administration Act.

Jonathan Campbell, defending, said: “His wife moved out for a trial period and he just didn’t accept it was permanent.”

Sheriff Brown deferred sentence until next month for social work background reports.

He told the accused: “The guidelines suggest that for this amount a prison sentence would be uppermost in the court’s mind, but I can say right now, Mr Dick, you will not be going to jail.”