A WOMAN who defrauded the council out of almost £6,000 has been given a further year to pay back the money.

Kimberley Cumming admitted to pretending to West Dunbartonshire Council that she was a single mother of a young child in her home at Second Avenue, Radnor Park.

She also told the local authority that she was unemployed and had no partner.

However, the truth was that she was maintaining a common household with her partner who was employed.

This allowed Cumming to receive £5,840 in housing and council tax benefits from June 8, 2015, until December 10, 2017. 

West Dunbartonshire Council also granted her a tax reduction because of her false circumstances.

The 32-year-old appeared in the dock at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on June 13 where her lawyer was instructed to request a further year for repayment.

Solicitor Paul Sweeney told the hearing that her case was previously deferred from last year so Cumming could attempt to repay back the money.

It was heard that she had successfully paid back £1,200 over the last 12 months and had made extra one-off payments when she could.

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry said: "I accept that you are doing what you can given the circumstances and it is going to take a long time."

She was allowed until June 4 next year to pay back the full amount.