A RENTON woman who defrauded the council and UK Government out of £7k has been given another year to pay the cash back.

Jenna Melville admitted to failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) between August 8, 2017, and October 7, 2018, that she was living with her partner.

This allowed her to fraud the public service department out of £2,400 of Income Support.

Then between August 14, 2017, and October 14, 2018, she received £4928.94 in housing benefits from West Dunbartonshire Council because she failed to make them aware that her partner was living in her home in Lennox Street.

The total value of money she owed both authorities was £7,328.94.

The 34-year-old appeared in the dock at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on June 6 where her lawyer was instructed to request a further year for repayment.

Solicitor Jonathan Paul told the hearing that her case was previously deferred from last year by Sheriff John Hamilton so Melville could repay back the money in full and provide a receipt.

Despite Melville making regular repayments, it was heard during the hearing that she struggled to repay the full amount.

Mr Paul said: "There are some outstanding payments. The payments have been made at £450 per month. I would ask that your lordship defers for a year."

Sheriff Maxwell Hendry said: "It is an unusual disposal but I am giving you a further year to pay off the entire debt. It is taking a long time but I appreciate it is being paid to the best you can.

"It is important that you maintain those payments and then when you come back to court you are able to show me that the payments have been made in full."

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