Work order for £45,000 housing benefit fraudster

A WOMAN who conned social security bosses into giving her £45,000 worth of housing benefit has been sentenced to 300 hours’ community service.

Laura McKinlay, 35, told Department of Work and Pensions chiefs that she was staying at a home which was owned by a private landlord.

However, Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard that she was living at a house in Appin Place,
Slateford, which was owned by her husband.

The court heard that between June 25, 2008, and July 9, 2009, McKinlay illegally pocketed tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money.

McKinlay, now of West Saville Terrace, Blackford, pleaded guilty to fraud before Sheriff Paul Arthurson, QC, at a hearing last month.

Sentence had been deferred in order for the court to obtain background reports about her character.

Sheriff Arthurson yesterday decided not to send the first offender to prison and ordered her to complete community service.