Sheriff blasts mother-of-six benefits fraudster who cared nothing for the “sick, weak and unlucky”

A Fife mother-of-six who falsely claimed benefits of more than £100,000 has been jailed for 16 months.

In an unusual outburst, Sheriff Michael O’Grady QC told Nicola Ann Sheddon it would be “the sick, the weak and the unlucky” who would suffer from her fraud.

The 43-year-old, of Denfield Avenue, Cardenden, Fife, admitted obtaining £61,544,41 from the Department of Work and Pensions between April 1, 2008, and May 16, 2014.

Between April 1, 2008, and February 22, 2009 she also fraudulently claimed £12,636.26 from Edinburgh City Council in Housing and Council Tax Benefit.

Another £28,509.67 was claimed in Housing and Council Tax Benefit from Fife Council between October 5, 2010, and May 4, 2014.

On Wednesday, Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard the grand total of benefits claimed without good reason came to £102,690.34.

Sheddon’s 17-year old daughter, who was in court, will have to give up her job to look after her younger sisters.

When Sheddon was sentenced both she and her daughter burst into tears.

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