A mother-of-three has started a jail term after she admitted claiming more than £30,000 in benefits to which she was not entitled in just three years.
Zowie Tervet told the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Aberdeenshire Council she was an unemployed single mum living alone.
As a result she received almost £200 per week in benefits.
However, she was actually living with her then partner, Mark Tervet, who she has since married, who was receiving an annual salary of £20,000.
Investigators started a probe following a tip-off.
It emerged the couple were sharing joint bank accounts into which Mr Tervet’s wages were paid to help support the family.
Depute fiscal Joanne Smith told Forfar Sheriff Court: “During the period of her claims she had said she was a single mother, first of two, then of three children.
“During reviews and when she updated other information, such as her address, she maintained that she was a single mother.
“When a DWP officer went to her home and interviewed her she claimed Mr Tervet was to move into her house later that month, in October 2013.
“She claimed not to be aware that his wages were paid into their joint account.
“When it was put to her that a decision-maker would have to decide whether her partner had been living with her and whether she had benefited financially she said ‘it certainly seems like I have’.”
Tervet, 33, of Mount Avenue, Montrose, pleaded guilty on indictment to two charges under the Social Security Administration Act.
The offences were committed at addresses in St Cyrus and Montrose.
Defence solicitor Nick Markowski said: “This was not done to fund a lavish lifestyle.
“It was done to make ends meet, and sometimes they did not.
“She has three children aged eight, five and three.
“She made a mistake and understands her liberty is at risk today.”
Sheriff Gregor Murray jailed Tervet who wept in the dock throughout the hearing for 10 months.
He said: “The sum is over £30,000 it is substantial.
“The appeal court has determined that in the absence of quite exceptional circumstances any gain of over £20,000 ought to attract a custodial sentence.
“There are no such circumstances in this case.
“There were three years of gain.
“These crimes are easy to commit and expensive to detect.
“You are otherwise a law-abiding citizen, a capable mother and wife.
“But there has to be a deterrent.”