A disabled 72-year-old Fife man has been jailed for a £66,000 benefits fraud in which he failed to declare his RAF pension.
Alexander Reid, who carried out the fraud over a 10-year period, was sentenced to a 16-month prison term.
The pensioner, who was a firefighter in the RAF for 19 years serving around the world, appeared in the dock with a walking stick and the court was told his wife was also disabled.
He had told a social worker that he had deliberately not declared the RAF pension so that his benefits would not be cut.
Reid, of Wardlaw Way, Oakley, admitted that between February 2 2004 and October 12 2014 at addresses in Blairwood Terrace and Wardlaw Way, both Oakley, he failed to give prompt notification about a change in circumstances he knew affected his entitlement to Pension Credit.
He failed to report that he was in receipt of an air force occupational pension. As a result, he received benefits of £21,325.59 to which he was not entitled.
Reid also admitted that between February 9 2004 and September 30 2014 he failed to provide notification about the same change in circumstances and as a result he received Housing Benefit of £36,321.73 and Council Tax Benefit £8444.36 to which he was not entitled.
Depute fiscal Claire Bremner told the court Reid had paid back the £21,325.59 to the Department of Work and Pensions. A repayment plan was also in place with Fife Council for the other sums fraudulently obtained.
Jonathan Mathieson-Dear previously told the court his client was “in poor health and disabled”.
When his client returned for sentencing, the solicitor said: “He’s aware this is a very serious matter and that it’s an extremely high sum which he’s effectively defrauded.”
Sheriff Charles Macnair pointed out: “In the social work report he says he did not want to lose some of his benefit.”
Mr Mathieson-Dear said: “He very foolishly took advantage of the situation.”
He told the court his client, a first offender, had served with the fire and rescue service in the RAF for 19 years including in Singapore and Cyprus.
Sheriff Macnair said: “Benefits fraud is a serious matter.
“It is easy to commit and hard to detect, which was shown by the fact you got away with it for over ten years.
“It does appear from the report that you knew you had a duty to declare the pension but didn’t want to lose your money.”
He said in the circumstances he believed the only appropriate sentence was a custodial one and he jailed Reid for 16 months.
