This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7635697.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'No room' in jail for fraudster | 'No room' in jail for fraudster |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A benefits cheat has avoided a jail sentence after a sheriff said there was no room for him in Scotland's overcrowded prisons. | |
| Sheriff Lindsay Foulis made it clear to George Munce that his sentence had been influenced by the fact inmate numbers were reaching "crisis point". | Sheriff Lindsay Foulis made it clear to George Munce that his sentence had been influenced by the fact inmate numbers were reaching "crisis point". |
| Munce, 46, from Auchterarder, had fraudulently claimed almost £10,000 of benefit cash by claiming he was single. | Munce, 46, from Auchterarder, had fraudulently claimed almost £10,000 of benefit cash by claiming he was single. |
| The sheriff ordered him to carry out 240 hours of community service. | The sheriff ordered him to carry out 240 hours of community service. |
| He was also told to pay the money back - but was given 20 years to do so at £10 per week. | He was also told to pay the money back - but was given 20 years to do so at £10 per week. |
| Munce admitted that between April 2004 and July 2006 he fraudulently obtained £9,500 income support from the Department of Work and Pensions. | Munce admitted that between April 2004 and July 2006 he fraudulently obtained £9,500 income support from the Department of Work and Pensions. |
| Sheriff Foulis told Munce's lawyer: "He can consider himself fortunate, but in light of certain matters we keep trying to bring to the attention of the press with regard to certain numbers, I am prepared to deal with this by way of community service. | Sheriff Foulis told Munce's lawyer: "He can consider himself fortunate, but in light of certain matters we keep trying to bring to the attention of the press with regard to certain numbers, I am prepared to deal with this by way of community service. |
| We are told that prison populations are reaching crisis point Sheriff Lindsay Foulis | |
| "Previously I would have had no hesitation in taking your client's liberty away from him. I should make it plain the maximum community service is imposed as a direct alternative to custody. | "Previously I would have had no hesitation in taking your client's liberty away from him. I should make it plain the maximum community service is imposed as a direct alternative to custody. |
| "We are told that prison populations are reaching crisis point and as a result - for a matter which I consider you well merit a custodial sentence - I am going to deal with it by way of the direct alternative." | "We are told that prison populations are reaching crisis point and as a result - for a matter which I consider you well merit a custodial sentence - I am going to deal with it by way of the direct alternative." |
| On Wednesday, the Auditor General for Scotland warned MSPs that Scotland's prison population had risen above safe limits. | |
| Robert Black told Holyrood's Audit Committee that jails were housing about 8,137 inmates, while the limit was 8,126. | |
| And last week the chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, Mike Ewart, warned that jails were in a state of emergency, with overcrowding putting the country at risk . |