A HIGH Valleyfield woman has been ordered to do unpaid work after receiving over £27,000 in a benefits fraud.

Julie Young, 35, of Valleyfield Avenue, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

Young admitted she obtained £27,146 in benefits to which she was not entitled to between 6th April 2013 and 6th September 2018.

She was in receipt of working and child tax credits on the basis she was a single parent household but her husband was living with her and was in employment.

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There was an anonymous report to the Department of Work and Pensions and inquiries revealed the couple were married in June 2014 and they were both living together at Kinloss Court, High Valleyfield.

The court was told the money is being paid back.

Sheriff Susan Duff said she was “quite appalled” about the time it had taken to bring the case to court.

She said: “A woman has had this hanging over her head for five years and the vast majority is at the hands of prosecutors in Scotland.”

Sheriff Duff imposed a community payback order with 150 hours of unpaid work.