A LOCHORE benefits cheat who claimed more than £8300 in handouts over two years will have to undertake 170 hours of unpaid work.

Mum-of-three Laura McComish (31), of Waverley Place, continued to claim the cash despite starting work with a company called Interserve Support Services, and appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Wednesday on four charges of benefit fraud.

She admitted that between 4th September 2012 and 29th July 2013 at her home and 6 Malcolm Street, Ballingry, she knowingly failed to give prompt notification to the Department for Work and Pensions of a change in circumstances which she knew entitled her entitlement to income support, in that she had commenced paid employment with Interserve and received £3111.50 to which she was not entitled.

She further admitted that between 24th September 2012 and 4th August 2013 at 6 Malcolm Street she knowingly failed to give prompt notification to Fife Council of a change of circumstances which she knew affected her housing benefit and council tax benefit, in that she had commenced paid employment with Interserve, and received £2626.45 to which she was not entitled.

She also admitted that between 2nd June 2014 and 19th October 2014 at her address, she knowingly failed to give prompt notification to Fife Council that her partner John McComish was in receipt of an increase in earned income, and received £796.39 in housing benefit.

Additionally, she pleaded guilty to the charge that between 26th August 2013 and 1st June 2014 at her address and 6 Malcolm Street, Ballingry, she knowingly made a false statement to the DWP on a housing and council tax benefit application form that she was not in employment and not in receipt of earnings, the truth being that she had commenced paid employment with Interserve, and received £1796.69 to which she was not entitled.

Solicitor, Janice Morrison, said McComish, now working as a shop assistant, had been “financially unstable” and that the money “had not been spent frivolously” but had gone towards the “upkeep of the family”.

Ms Morrison added, “She is aware of the seriousness of her actions.

“She’s aware that the money is a substantial sum and is ashamed and embarrassed.

“She has no previous convictions and has never been before the courts before.” In sentencing, Sheriff Charles Macnair said, “These were significant sums over a period of, in total, two years.

“Benefit fraud is easy to commit and often difficult to detect.” He imposed a community payback order of 170 hours of unpaid work, to be completed in six months.