A mother whose £30,000 scam was rumbled after benefits bosses checked her Facebook page was jailed yesterday.
Denise Lonie lied to welfare chiefs that she was a single mum and had split from partner Graeme Heatherwick despite the fact they were living together as a family with their children at their home in Dundee.
For more than four years she hid their relationship from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) so she could claim Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.
But in reality the family were together. A probe began after confidential information was received by the DWP.
During their investigation they discovered her Facebook page said she was “in a relationship with Graeme Heatherwick”.
Fiscal depute Nicola Gillespie told Dundee Sheriff Court: “There were various checks through banks and other establishments such as the council. They appeared to show that Mr Heatherwick resided at her address.
“His bank account was registered at that address, as was his credit card.
“He was down as an emergency contact with the school, and the address was given as her address.
“Checks were done on her Facebook account which showed her as in a relationship with him.”
Lonie, 37, of Fintryside, Dundee, pled guilty on indictment to a charge of being knowingly concerned in a fraudulent activity with a view to obtaining tax credits to which she was not entitled.
Sheriff Lorna Drummond QC jailed Lonie for 12 months.