The liberty of a 76-year-old Angus woman is at risk after she claimed £18,000 of benefits to which she was not entitled.
Robina Pearson, of Clova Road, Kirriemuir, appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court and will be sentenced later this month for falsely claiming the five-figure sum.
Depute fiscal Hannah Kennedy said: “The amount is in relation to an undisclosed occupational pension, whereby the accused obtained pension credit.
“The total was around £25,000, which was reduced to £18,000.”
Sheriff Kevin Veal said: “It was the quantum that struck me, as well as the fact it was done over an eight-year period It wasn’t just a one-off.”
Defence agent Michael Boyd said: “Pearson separated from her husband in 1982 and a history of domestic abuse at his hands was alleged. When her husband died in 1998, his occupational pension came into her hands.”
He added: “Ms Pearson appears in court for the first time in her life and she recognises what she did was wrong.
Sheriff Veal asked when authorities became aware of the issue, to which Ms Kennedy replied September 2.
“These investigations take a considerable amount of time to go through,” she added.
“For example, there wasn’t an interview conducted until February 14 2012.”
The sheriff said his sentencing decision is bound by the guidelines drawn by the High Court, which would indicate such a large amount is equal to a custodial sentence.
He said that offering repayment to what he termed “a cash-strapped” society would alleviate that requirement however, Pearson only receives around £400 a month in pension and other income.
The case was continued until April 25 for an in-depth investigation of Pearson’s financial circumstances.
“The threat of custody is not totally removed,” added Sheriff Veal.
Pearson pleaded guilty to a charge that between January 25 2003 and November 20 2011, at her home address and elsewhere, she pretended to officials at the Department for Work and Pensions benefits agency that she was not in receipt of an occupational pension, and obtained £18,000 of income support and pension credit by fraud. Sheriff Veal previously deferred sentence for reports to be obtained.