18 months’ jail for £40,000 Dundee benefits fraudster

A Dundee man who lied to benefits bosses and scammed almost £40,000 over the course of almost 11 years has been jailed for 18 months.

Alexander Reid repeatedly filled out forms claiming that he was separated and single, but was in fact living with his wife, Kathleen Reid.

He fraudulently obtained employment support allowance and income support totalling £39,808.40.

Reid, 59, of Whitfield Square, pleaded not guilty on indictment to a charge under the Social Security Administration Act.

He denied it all the way to a jury trial held at Dundee Sheriff Court last month.

After three days of evidence from Department for Work and Pensions staff and other witnesses a jury found him guilty by majority.

Defence solicitor John Boyle asked that Reid be spared jail and given a community payback order as an alternative to a prison sentence.

Sheriff Tom Hughes imposed an 18-month jail term on Reid.

He said: “Because of the sum of money involved a custodial sentence is the only option.”