Seven jailed over benefit fraud

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Seven people from Renfrewshire who took part in a massive child care benefit fraud have been jailed for a total of 14 years.

The four men and three women admitted making more than £300,000 in false claims while acting alone.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard how benefit staff cleared the claims without formal checks and only noticed the scam once it had been going for several years.

The total value of the fraudulent claims ranged from £27,500 to £55,000.

Eight people appeared in court charged with benefit fraud offences.

The court heard how all of the accused were either related or knew each other socially.

One of the accused, Gail Johnstone, 30, from Johnstone, admitted obtaining more than £12,000 to which she was not entitled. There is no doubt that the system was one in which there were no obvious checks in place to protect taxpayers money Sheriff Ruth Anderson

Sheriff Ruth Anderson ordered her to carry out 300 hours of community service as she had admitted her guilt from the start and was the only one who had made an effort to repay some of the money obtained.

Stephen Cameron, 26, David Meechan, 41, and Michael Meechan, 40, all from Johnstone, admitted obtaining more than £130,000 between them in separate frauds.

They were jailed for 24 months, 27 months and 24 months respectively.

Eileen Meechan, 44, from Paisley and Lisa Cameron, 26, Theresa Cameron, 45, and Thomas Smart, 46, all from Johnstone, admitted obtaining more than £157,000 in separate frauds.

They were jailed for 21 months, 24 months, 27 months and 21 months respectively.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Anderson said: "There is no doubt that the system was one in which there were no obvious checks in place to protect taxpayers money.

"The expression 'pay now, check later' has been used to describe what went on but I heard of no checks being carried out over a three-year period."