A 50-year-old man has been ordered to return to court next month for sentencing after failing to tell government officials his partner had a job and was living with him and claiming over £3600 in income support he was not entitled to.
Paul Barty previously admitted making a false statement to the Department of Work and Pensions by claiming he was only living with his mother at 2 Clayton Road in Bridge of Earn between July 8, 2014 and 1 June, 2015 when the truth was his partner was also living with him over that time.
The single charge as set out on court papers states Barty, now of Orchard Way, Inchture, was able to claim a total sum of £3628.95 in income support over the period by failing to mention his partner was living with him and earning a wage in that time.
Barty used a walking stick to make his way into the dock at Perth Sheriff Court last Wednesday when his case was called.
Solicitor Pauline Cullerton told the court Barty had since repaid the full amount of income support he was not entitled to claim but sheriff John Rafferty said he could not consider the case closed just because he had paid the sum back.
He called for a criminal justice social work report and a restriction of liberty assessment to be prepared on Barty and ordained him to return to court next month for sentencing.
Barty is next scheduled to appear in court on April 13.
