A Dundee painter and decorator has been jailed for six months after claiming more than £14,000 in disability and incapacity benefit.
Norman Lawson, 52, of St Fillans Road, fraudulently obtained the cash while working for Greenhill Joiners and Contractors in Forfar. He claimed the money during a six-year period.
Lawson was caught after the Department for Work and Pensions carried out surveillance and spotted him working.
Lawson previously admitted that between October 17 2004 and November 7 2009 at St Fillans Road he failed to notify the Department for Work and Pensions of a change in circumstances, namely that he worked on a self-employed basis through Barry Greenhill Joiners and Contractors, Market Place, Forfar, and that he was in receipt of earnings and obtained £1,782.42 of incapacity benefit to which he was not entitled.
He further admitted that between May 17 2007 and December 28 2010 he obtained £12,346.96 of Disability Living Allowance (higher mobility and lower rate care) to which he was not entitled while self-employed as a painter and decorator.
At a previous court hearing, depute fiscal Nicola Gillespie said: “Information was received on February 10 2012 that the accused worked for himself for a joiner and contractors in Forfar.
“He admitted he had received benefits, but said he had family problems and had hit hard times financially.
“He saw it as a chance of extra money for his family.”
His solicitor Ian Myles said: “He does accept that he did not inform the authorities about the change in circumstances.
“This matter has a lengthy history. He is a first offender and he has paid back some of the money.”
Sentencing, Sheriff Hughes said: “There are very clear guidelines, and in your case a custodial sentence is inevitable.”