An octogenarian who fraudulently claimed thousands of pounds in state benefits while secretly living off rent from two properties and a private pension has been admonished.
Over a 10-year period, 81-year-old Sidney Graham lied to Aberdeenshire Council, claiming he did not have more than £6,000 in capital and that his only source of income was through his pension.
Had that been the case he would have been entitled to receive council tax benefits.
However, the pensioner was secretly the part owner of two other homes, not including his own, and was raking in thousands of pounds in rent.
Between February 2003 and January 2013, Graham, of Upper Braeside, Culsalmond, Insch, fraudulently claimed £8,870.57.
Yesterday he appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court to be sentenced for enefit fraud having admitted it at a hearing earlier this year.
The court heard the council became suspicious that the pensioner had not declared his full worth.
Investigations were made and it was established that, in addition to the home he had declared, he was the joint owner of two other properties in Aberdeen.
Fiscal depute Felicity Merson said Graham had not disclosed this and when asked about the extra homes he admitted he owned them alongside his daughter.
However, when questioned he refused to say how his daughter could be contacted.
The court heard Graham had never been in trouble with the law before and had paid back all the money he had taken – and £4,000 more.
Sheriff William Taylor said that since Graham had repaid the cash, he was prepared to go with the recommendation of social workers in regards to his sentence and he was admonished.