A BENEFITS CHEAT from Tullibody has appeared in Alloa Sheriff Court.

Karen Callaghan, 54, of Old School Court, was given a restriction of liberty order after pleading guilty to two charges of claiming benefits when she wasn’t entitled to do so.

The first charge stated that she made a false statement to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) on May 15, 2013. She claimed in an application that she had in capital or savings a sum of £2,168 when the truth was that she possessed an amount much higher than this which exceeded the upper prescribed limit.

The second charge stated that between April 15, 2013, and May 3, 2015, the accused failed to give Clackmannanshire Council prompt notification of a change of circumstance which she knew would affect her entitlement to benefit, namely housing benefit. Callaghan’s capital once again exceeded the upper prescribed limit.

The upper prescribed limit is currently £16,000, meaning Callaghan had more than that amount in capital or savings.

Jim Savage, representing Callaghan, told the court that she had acquired such a large amount of savings after a particularly difficult divorce and the sale of the family home.

She subsequently became depressed and this, she claimed, was an attributing factor to her claiming benefits as she said she just “closed her eyes” and paid no attention to what was going on.

Mr Savage told the court that the DWP had begun deducting money from Callaghan’s benefits to try to recoup the money they wrongly paid her.

Sheriff David Mackie, while having sympathy for the difficulties Callaghan had endured, said she must be punished accordingly.

He said: “I recognise this has happened by you burying your head in the sand. However much sympathy the court feels and offers you, the amount claimed exceeds admonition.”

He sentenced Callaghan to a restriction of liberty order for three months, meaning she will not be allowed to leave her home between the hours of 8pm and 5am.