The girlfriend of former Dundee United captain Garry Kenneth has been given a 200-hour community payback order after admitting falsely claiming more than £13,000 in benefits.
Charlene Buist, 26, raked in benefits she was not entitled to while living with the defender in Dundee.
Kenneth, capped twice by Scotland, moved to Bristol Rovers last summer after his contract with the Tannadice side ended. Buist was taking the benefits right up until Kenneth left the SPL in July last year.
She and Kenneth were living together and shared a joint bank account, with Buist repeatedly lying on claim forms to obtain benefits.
At Dundee Sheriff Court, Buist, of Applin Green, Emerson’s Green, Bristol, broke down in tears in the dock. The court heard the couple were in an unstable relationship.
Acting on behalf of Buist, solicitor David Duncan said: “She was not in a traditional domestic relationship during the period. She was not with her partner and was the principal carer of her daughter.
“However, these remain serious offences. She is now in a more stable relationship but at the time that was not the case and I suspect that might have had some impact on the offence.
“She has shown genuine remorse and has insight into why it might be unfair for someone in her position to receive benefits.”
The court heard Buist, who remains in employment, has already paid back around £1,000.
Sheriff Kenneth McGowan said: “In the circumstances, given that you are working and have responsibilities to your daughter, I have decided to impose a community payback order.”
He warned that this was in place of a custodial sentence. Buist was sentenced to 200 hours of community payback to be completed within 12 months.