A Dunfermline woman has been ordered to carry out unpaid work after admitting benefit fraud worth almost £40,000.
Pauline Graves claimed child tax credit and housing benefit to which she was not entitled.
The housing benefit was worth over £24,000, while the tax credits were to the tune of more than £15,000.
The offences took place between Aril 2017 and March 2019.
Graves, 49, of Hutchison Green, must carry out 135 hours of unpaid work.
£100k of cars
A pair of Dundee men who embarked on a four-week crime spree in the Highlands and stole five cars worth £100,000 have been jailed. Andrew Craigie, 30, and Andrew Gardiner, 38, appeared from custody at Inverness Sheriff Court and admitted five charges between them. The stolen vehicles were recovered at addresses in Dundee.
Neighbour-from-hell
A Dundee neighbour-from-hell had a prison sentence imposed after telling a neighbour he would “kick their c*** in.”
Michael McConnell was brought from prison to Dundee Sheriff Court to admit acting abusively.
On August 26 last year, McConnell’s neighbours phoned police at 6pm to make a noise complaint, amid ongoing issues.
Around 30 minutes later, the neighbours took their dogs out as they were becoming bothered by the noise from McConnell’s flat.
McConnell left his flat and from the landing area, he shouted and swore at the neighbours, telling one he’d “kick their c*** in” and that he would “do them in.”
Solicitor Kevin Hampton said McConnell had a longstanding alcohol issue
Earlier this year, the 53-year-old was handed a four-month prison sentence.
Sheriff Andrew Berry imposed another two-month sentence, to run concurrently.
‘Raging bull’ run
A 74-year-old woman was left unconscious and too scared to leave her home for a year after being assaulted by Aimee Lee, 37, who believed she had slapped a primary school child. Lee, who was found guilty of assault, was said to have run at her victim “like a raging bull” in Cowdenbeath in July 2021.
Christmas thug
A Dundee thug who struck his partner’s head off a fence and a door frame in separate Christmas Eve attacks has been released from custody.
Derek Lynch was brought from jail to Dundee Sheriff Court after previously admitting injuring his ex in a vicious domestic assault on December 24 last year in Craigmore Street.
Lynch – now of Strathmartine Road – said she had ruined Christmas, seized her by the hair and pushed her face against the fence.
Almost four hours later, Lynch attacked the woman again, after following her into the bathroom, seizing her by the right hand side of her face, grabbing her hair and hitting her face off the door frame.
The court heard Lynch, 40, has been behind bars since Hogmanay.
He was liberated on a high tariff structured deferred sentence and is due back in court on February 27.
Until then, he must engage with a mentoring service.
Sheriff Gregor Murray said the incident was a “vicious” attack on a “defenceless” woman.
Self-defence denial
An ex-Marine accused of having an obscure martial arts weapon in Perth denied police claims he told them it was for self-defence. Dean Crowley had a Kubaton in his pocket when he was pulled over. He told his trial: “I’m not being funny but I’m a former Royal Marine. Why would I need something like that for self-defence?” The case was not proven.
Asbo breach assault
A Cowdenbeath woman attacked police dispatched to her house following a noise complaint shortly before 4am.
Ellie Grant, 21, initially tried to run away when officers arrested her and had to be placed in leg restraints after lashing out.
Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court heard Grant had received an Antisocial behaviour order (Asbo) at Dunfermline Sheriff Court and it had been explained she was being arrested for breaching it.
During the struggle, an officer was elbowed in the face and she tried to spit on another.
On arrival at Dunfermline police station Grant made a racist remark, calling two officers “black P***s”.
Grant, of Netherton Road, admitted resisting arrest, assault and making racist remarks in the town’s Moss Street and at Dunfermline police station on June 7 last year
Sentence was deferred for reports.
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