THE wife of a former Irvine councillor who claimed almost £5,000 in benefits she wasn’t entitled to has been sentenced to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work.

Circe Dewar, of Green Avenue, fraudulently claimed a total of £4,918.52 between June 19, 2013 and February 14, 2014.

During that period, the 53-year-old twice failed to notify the Department of Work and Pensions of a change of circumstances she knew would affect her benefits.

Dewar received £3,448.02 in Employment and Support Allowance but her marriage to former councillor and political activist Tam Dewar made her ineligible for the benefit.

In addition, she further admitted to fraudulently claiming £1,470.50 in Housing Benefit between June 24, 2013 and February 12, 2014, which, due to Mr Dewar’s employment and marriage to him, she did not legally qualify for. Dewar previously pled guilty at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court in January.

She returned to court last week after the production of social work reports.

Her solicitor, Brian Holliman, told the court how Dewar gave a very full explanation but accepts she should have contacted the benefits agencies and local authorities.

Mr Holliman revealed that he had been in contact with the DWP and the Stirling Park debt collection agency and there is currently a payment plan in place at the rate of £40 per month and £20 per month respectively.

He added how Dewar appeared before the court as a first offender and the social work report indicated that Dewar is not likely to appear before the court again.

Presiding Sheriff Iona McDonald sentenced Dewar to 240 hours of unpaid work as a direct alternative to a custodial sentence.