Con woman stole £9,500 in benefits

A WOMAN who conned the benefits system out of £9,500 has been ordered to carry out 175 hours of community service.

Angela Mitchell, 35, failed to inform the Department for Work and Pensions and the City of Edinburgh Council that she was living with her partner.

Mitchell, of Morrison Gardens, South Queensferry, admitted failing to inform officials of her change in circumstances which affected her entitlement to Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. The offence happened between 1 January and 31 August 2008.

Sheriff Kenneth Maciver yesterday told Mitchell: "It is a crime against the public purse.

"The most appropriate way of dealing with it is to require you to repay your community by the performance of work."

He added he had reduced the number of hours from 250 to reflect her guilty plea.

The court was also told Mitchell is being pursued by civil proceedings for the outstanding amount and was repaying the money from her benefits.