Linda Nolan blames mistake for £12,000 benefits fraud charges

Pop singer Linda Nolan is to appear in court for alleged benefit fraud totalling £12,000, it has been reported.

She told the Sunday Mirror: “I’ve been an idiot, so call me ignorant and call me stupid but please don’t call me dishonest. I want people to know it wasn’t intentional.

“I just want to hold my hands up and say I am sorry. I’ve already started to pay it back. I will pay it back in full.”

Nolan, 56, was made aware of her local council’s investigation into overpayment of benefits last May, the newspaper said.

She had failed to declare occasional income from TV appearances and a problem page in a local magazine, because she did not see them as a “change of circumstances”.

She readily agreed to repay the £12,000 bill and thought the matter had been dealt with until last week when she received a court summons.