Woman admits stealing £14,000 in benefits

A HADDINGTON woman has admitted to benefit fraud on much reduced charges.

Yvonne Cordiner pleaded guilty to a charge of obtaining £14,058.90 in Income Support from the Department of Work and Pensions after informing it she did not have a partner when she knew the truth to be different.

Cordiner, of Fortune Avenue, was in fact living with husband James Cordiner at the times she was claiming the support payouts.

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The 36-year-old was also alleged to have claimed more than £37,000 in housing and council tax benefit from East Lothian Council over the four-year period.

But when she appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday, Cordiner admitted to a reduced charge of claiming just £9797.41.

Cordiner had her sentence deferred to December 18 for the preparation of reports and for a restriction of liberty assessment to be carried out.

Cordiner admitted to claiming £14,058.90 to which she was not entitled from the DWP between August 29, 2009, and September 24, 2013 at various addresses throughout East Lothian.

She also pleaded guilty to claiming £8399.99 in housing benefit and £1397.42 council tax benefit from the local authority between August 29, 2009, and October 14, 2013.