A BENEFIT cheat who embezzled almost £5000 in Income Support and Housing benefits has been given six months to pay back the money she stole.

Yvonne Berretti, of Hole Road, Coylton, admitted claiming £1852 of Income Support between July 31, 2014 and January 31, 2015, and failing to notify the DWP of a change in circumstances as she was living with a man in Alloway who was in paid employment.

The 49-year-old also pleaded guilty to taking £2816 of housing benefits she was not entitled to between August 4, 2014 and January 31, 2015, making the total amount of money claimed £4668.

Berretti appeared before Sheriff John Montgomery at Ayr Sheriff Court last week. The court heard from Depute Fiscal Scott Toal that: "The accused was receiving payment from another."

Speaking on her behalf defence solicitor Gregor Forbes said: "She was in a relationship with the man she was living with but he was working abroad. She was staying at his house and she was receiving financial support from him.

"She still resides with him and he is still living abroad. She situation is that she is a single parent with three children. She has been paying £200 per month because of the support from Mr Fisher."

Sheriff Montgomery said: "I am going to defer sentence for a period of six months to monitor the payment plan."
Sentence has been deferred until March 2017.