A BONHILL man who swindled more than £8,500 in benefits he was not entitled to has had his sentence deferred for six months to make repayments.

Mark Casey, 45, of Ladyton Estate, appeared for sentence last Friday at Dumbarton Sheriff Court.

Prosecutor Sarah Healing told the court that Casey, between January 11, 2011 and May 6, 2012, knowingly failed to tell the Department of Work and Pensions that he was in receipt of other income which affected his employment and support allowance, and that he obtained £3,888 he wasn’t entitled to.

The court then heard how he conned West Dunbartonshire Council out of £4,111 in housing benefit and council tax benefit he shouldn’t have been paid, between the same dates. He again failed to report his other income.

Casey also admitted that between August 24, 2012 and October 17, 2012, he conned the DWP out of a further £557 of Jobseekers Allowance, again failing to disclose other income.

Ms Healing added: “£501 has been repaid so far to the DWP by way of deduction from his benefits.”

Defence lawyer Scott Adair said: “He pleaded guilty to reduced amounts on March 23 this year and has been of good behaviour since then.

“He is in a better state of health than he was six months ago.”

Sheriff Moira Mackenzie deferred sentence until March 22, 2019, for Casey to continue to make repayments.

He was ordered to be of good behaviour until that date.