A Dundee woman who defrauded the Department for Work and Pensions and the city council out of more than £70,000 has been jailed for nine months.
Anne Marie Getty, 50, had claimed benefits for seven years without telling the authorities her partner had moved in with her and was earning a salary.
Getty was described in court by her solicitor as having “withdrawn” not only from being treated for mental health but “from life in general” since the offence had come to light.
Jailing her, Sheriff Kenneth McGowan told Getty she had stolen £10,000 per annum from public funds and a prison sentence was inevitable.
The court heard she had claimed the money through income support, employment and support allowance, council tax and housing benefit between 2005 and 2012.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard Getty was living with a partner who was working and in receipt of earnings over the course of the fraud, while telling benefits and council staff she was living alone.
Getty had originally been charged with defrauding more than £100,000 worth of benefits but the Crown accepted a guilty plea to claiming a lesser amount.
She admitted that between April 1 2005 and March 25 2012, at 19 Castlecary Gardens, Ormiston Crescent, she obtained income support and employment support allowance amounting to £40,765.26, while failing to declare that William Gow was living there and in receipt of earnings, which she was not entitled to.
She further admitted between April 1 2005 and March 27 2012, at the same address, she failed to report a change of circumstances and obtained £29,884.08 in council tax benefit and housing benefit.
Solicitor advocate Jim Laverty appealed to Sheriff McGowan not to jail her and said she would be willing to undertake a community-based disposal.
He said despite previously being under the impression she was being treated for her ongoing mental health issues, he was now able to tell the court she was no longer engaging with her doctor.
He told the court: “Since these offences came to light she has been suffering quite substantially in this matter.”
He said her partner had moved in with her to assist with things but her financial position did not get any better with him there and she had not been living the “high life”.
“There is no suggestion of any luxury products or the type of trappings which courts have been told of in some fraudulent acts. This does not apply here but she fully accepts her culpability.
“She should have intimated to the authorities the change of circumstances and she didn’t and she now finds herself in this position.
“She is well aware that these types of offences would normally attract a custodial sentence, however she would be willing to undertake a community-based disposal, possibly with a combination of orders to assist with her rehabilitation.”
Sheriff McGowan said: “I have taken into account all that has been said on your behalf and I accept you have not been living the high life.
“However, about £70,000 of public funds were obtained fraudulently over seven years or so that could otherwise have been available to other deserving people.
“This was a fraud involving a substantial sum over a long period of time. I accept that it has not been easy for you but I consider that only a custodial sentence is appropriate.”