A 72-year-old man who claimed over £3000 in extra pension credit from DWP has been given a deferred sentence for good behaviour.

John Martin, of Dundonald Park, Cardenden, previously admitted that between September 2014 and May 3 2015, he did knowingly fail to give prompt notification in the prescribed manner to the Department of Work and Pensions, of a change of circumstances which you knew affected your entitlement to pension credit, in that your partner, commenced paid employment with Abbotsford Care Limited, and therefore you did obtain pension credit of £3331.53 to which you were not entitled.

Defence solicitor, Gwen Haggerty, said her client was not fit for unpaid work. She said: "His GP has confirmed that he suffers from type 2 diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, a tremor and there are concerns that he may have Parkinsons."

Sheriff Linda Smith said she expected Martin to continue making repayments back to the DWP and deferred his sentence for nine months for good behaviour.