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 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
'No room' in jail for fraudster | 'No room' in jail for fraudster |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A benefits cheat has avoided jail after a sheriff said there was no room for him in Scotland's overcrowded prisons. | |
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told George Munce his community service 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 prison service said it was just two inmates short of the safe limit, given by the Auditor General, of 8,126. | |
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 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. | |
We are told that prison populations are reaching crisis point Sheriff Lindsay Foulis | We are told that prison populations are reaching crisis point Sheriff Lindsay Foulis |
The sheriff 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. | |
"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 Robert Black warned MSPs that Scotland's prison population had risen above safe limits. | |
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. | |
'Absolutely outrageous' | |
Richard Baker, Labour's justice spokesman, blamed Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill. | |
"His government's refusal to get on with the job of adding more capacity to the prison estate is at the heart of this mess," he said. | |
"My message to Kenny MacAskill is clear - tell the finance secretary, John Swinney, you need more money to build new prisons now before this crisis gets even worse." | |
Conservative justice spokesman Bill Aitken said: "Sheriffs should deal with each case as it is presented to them, and it is absolutely outrageous and indeed dangerous that a sheriff has to concede that sentencing policy is being influenced by lack of prison places. | |
"We should be sending out a message that crime deserves to be punished, not dismissed." |