A BENEFITS cheat who fraudulently claimed £5,000 has been placed on a tag.

Peter Dougal, 58, of High Street, Lochgelly, failed to declare a mine workers pension and a probe by the Department of Works and Pension discovered the discrepancy.

Appearing for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court, on Wednesday, Dougal had admitted that between April 13, 2014 and October 9, 2016, he did, with a view to obtaining any benefit or other payment or advantage under the relevant social security legislation, made a false statement to officials of the Department of Work and Pension on applications for employment and support allowance.

He had falsely claimed that he was not in receipt of any pension when and thereby obtained employment and support allowance of £5,000 which he wasn't entitled to.

Depute fiscal, Dev Kapadia, said Dougal had claimed incapacity benefit on the basis he was unable to work due to illness. He also claimed employment support allowance on the basis he lived with his mother and was in receipt of dsa.

"Following investigations, the DWP found he was in receipt of an occupational pension from a mine workers pension scheme and had been since August 1986," he added.

"He said he didn't know why he had stated that he didn't have a pension but said he had sent in a letter a few years earlier to say he was receiving a works pension."

Sheriff Alastair Brown said it had been a "serious and prolonged" dishonesty.

"The benefit system is there so that people who need the money can get the money," he told Dougal. "It is not generous. It is there to provide enough to keep body and soul together for people who are struggling.

"The budget is limited. When you commit fraud against the benefit system, then you are reducing the amount of money available for people who genuinely need it. If you had declared the pension you were receiving, it would have been assessed and if you were needing money from benefits, you would have got it but you didn't go through that."

He placed Dougal on a restriction of liberty order for 15 weeks requiring him to remain in his home from 7pm until 7am.