Musselburgh benefits cheat sentencing delayed

Edinburgh Sheriff Court. File picture: Ian Georgeson

Angela Hogg claimed thousands of pounds in disability benefit after she claimed she was confined to a wheelchair and could not walk 800 yards.

Hogg, from Pinkie Avenue, also said her disability prevented her from carrying shopping bags and performing everyday tasks without help.

But following an investigation by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Hogg’s condition was found not to be as bad as she had made out.

Hogg had falsely claimed £47,300 from the DWP and the Disability and Carers Service over a ten-year period after she failed to inform the agencies of an improvement in her condition.

The 59-year-old appeared in the dock at Edinburgh Sheriff Court with the aid of a walking frame where she was due to be sentenced after previously admitting the charge.

But the court was told despite social work and psychological reports being available a further deferment was needed as Sheriff Nigel Ross wanted information regarding a possible electronic tag being fitted on the accused.

Solicitor Mary Moultrie said her client was currently repaying the cash back and that she had “accepted culpability” and that there had been “no real planning behind this” offence.

Ms Moultrie said Hogg continues to suffer from a “chronic pain situation” and there was “no likelihood of reoffending” from her client.

Sheriff Ross said he “needed to know the facilities are available” for an electronic tag to be possibly fitted as punishment for the offence.

The sheriff also said he was considering a period of unpaid work for the offender. Sentence was deferred to April 15.