Dundee pensioner pleads guilty to benefits scam

A pensioner today admitted scamming almost £10,000 in benefits by hiding his savings accounts from welfare bosses.

Published 9th Sep 2016

A pensioner today admitted scamming almost £10,000 in benefits by hiding his savings accounts from welfare bosses.

James Kelly, 68, defrauded the taxpayer out of £9500 in the three year scam.

He told Jobcentre workers and Dundee City Council that he only had one bank account - when in truth he had money saved with both Virgin Money and Cheltenham and Gloucester.

As a result he obtained £9500 in housing benefit and council tax benefit between November 2012 and November 2015.

Kelly, 68, of Canning Street, Dundee, pleaded guilty on summary complaint to a charge under the Social Security Administration Act.

Sheriff George Way deferred sentence until next month for social work background reports.