The girlfriend of former Dundee United captain Garry Kenneth has admitted falsely claiming more than £13,000 of benefits while living with the footballer.
Charlene Buist, 26, raked in benefits she was not entitled to while living with the defender in Dundee.
Kenneth, capped twice for Scotland, moved to Bristol Rover 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.
He and Buist were living together and shared a joint bank account, with Buist repeatedly lying on claim forms and “undertaking fraudulent activity” to obtain taxpayers’ money.
At Dundee Sheriff Court, Buist, of Applin Green, Emerson’s Green, Bristol, broke down in tears as details of the fraud were read out.
The court heard the couple were in an “on and off” relationship and had got engaged.
They stayed over at each other’s homes and shared a joint bank account, which Buist used to buy shopping and pay bills.
The Boots worker did not contribute financially to the account, however.
Depute fiscal Bill Kermode told the court: “On December 13 2011, information was received from an anonymous source that Buist was living with her partner Garry Kenneth.
“This was investigated and revealed a number of links. It was revealed they had joint finances in a bank account.
“His salary was paid into a bank account and they both made withdrawals. Inquiries with the DVLA showed cars registered to Kenneth which both were using. There were also links to a Virgin Media account and a Bank of Ireland account.
“An internet search showed the couple were engaged on Facebook. But when Kenneth was interviewed on April 24 2012, his position was that they had not lived together and he stated he was not fully aware of Buist’s financial circumstances.
“Council tax records showed them as living together for part of the time.”
When Buist was interviewed on July 10 last year she confirmed she claimed benefits and knew she had to report changes in circumstances such as no longer being single to the DWP.
Mr Kermode said: “She described their relationship as rocky and volatile, and indicated her partner would stay over at weekends while she sometimes stayed at his. She was aware of the level of income he received, confirmed the joint account and said she paid for shopping and utility bills but did not contribute financially to the account.
“She stated she knew if she was living with her partner she would not be entitled to benefits. Asked about future plans, she confirmed they had planned to marry in 2013 but that these changed after a falling out.”
Defending, David Duncan, said: “The couple were in an on and off relationship which included periods of total separation. They were not habitually residing together. The engagement was towards the end of the period libelled.”
Buist admitted that between April 1 2011 and July 24 last year at an address on Bellisle Drive she was “knowingly concerned in fraudulent activity with a view to obtaining payments of a tax credit” and claimed £5,254.63 of working and child tax credits as a single person when Kenneth was earning income.
Buist also admitted claiming £2,082.86 of income support between August 9 2011 and March 11 last year at an address on Beaumont Terrace, Broughty Ferry, that she was not entitled to by claiming she was single. She also admitted a third charge that between April 1 2011 and April 12 last year, she falsely claimed to Dundee City Council that she was single and obtained £6,315.38 of housing and council tax benefit she was not entitled to.
Sheriff McGowan deferred sentence on Buist to July 5 for reports.