A north-east woman has been spared jail after fraudulently claiming thousands of pounds in benefits, to which she was not entitled.
Linda Elrick was signed off work seven years ago after falling ill and started claiming employment support allowance.
However, she failed to tell the Department of Work and Pensions that her husband Gary Elrick had obtained a job and this meant she claimed £12,5000 fraudulently.
And the 62-year-old appeared in Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday to be sentenced.
Representing her, defence agent Les Green said his client was capable of carrying out low intensity work as punishment.
He added: “I would ask you to look at her lifetime of good behaviour before this.
“She worked all her life until seven years ago when she became afflicted by a quite serious illness.”
Sheriff Graeme Buchanan, imposing a sentence, said: “You will understand, of course, that this is a serious matter and you obtained £12,500 of public money to which you were not entitled.
“The sum involved is obviously substantial, but there are sentence guidelines in existence to assist the court in imposing the appropriate sentence in particular cases.
“In your case, the amount obtained just touches on the side of a non-custodial sentence.”
Elrick, whose address was given as Jesmond Avenue in Bridge of Don, was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work within 10 months.