Benefits payback

A LERWICK man who claimed almost £9,000 in incapacity benefit over five years that he was not entitled to escaped a jail sentence at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Thursday.

Brian Laing, aged 64, of 7 Staney Hill, admitted not informing the Department for Work and Pensions about all he was earning to supplement his benefits between 3 September 2006 and 22 October 2011.

Defence agent Tommy Allan said Laing would be losing one third of his benefits over the next five years to pay back the full £8,875.24 that he had been overpaid.

This would mean he paid more tax than he would otherwise, causing him to lose more than the extra he had gained.

Sheriff Philip Mann said normally such a serious offence would have led to a jail sentence, but having read a social work background report saying Laing looked after his sick wife he ordered him to carry out 275 hours community service.