by Craig Borland

A CLYDEBANK woman who dishonestly obtained more than £8,000 in benefits over a 15-month period will be sentenced next month – after a court was asked to grant more time to find out whether a conviction would ruin her career prospects.

Natalie George obtained £4,161 in income support and £4,000 in housing benefit as a result of not telling officials that she was living with her husband.

George, 29, appeared in court on Friday for sentencing after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to committing two offences under the Social Security Administration Act.

The Whitehill Crescent resident obtained income support over a 13-month period between February 11, 2015,and March 15, 2016, while the housing benefit payments were made between February 16, 2015 and May 8, 2016.

In each case she admitted obtaining payments to which she was not entitled by knowingly failing to give prompt notification to government officials of a change in her circumstances which affected her entitlement to benefits.

George’s solicitor, Brian McGuire, told a hearing at Dumbarton Sheriff Court last Friday that his client had completed a college course and was hoping to go to university to help build a career.

Mr McGuire said: “It strikes me that the inevitable consequences of a conviction would be to end her prospect of a career before it’s even started.

“It would be a waste of her time going to university.

“If there were to be a conviction she’s duty bound to disclose that immediately.”

Sheriff William Gallacher said he was willing to allow Mr McGuire more time to clarify whether a conviction would indeed irreparably damage George’s career prospects.

Sheriff Gallacher told George: “I’m willing to at least contemplate this. This is a serious matter and I needed to balance that with everything from your perspective.”