Florida holiday mum exposed as £35,000 tax cheat

Jacqueline Spankie, 37, repeatedly told the Department for Work and Pensions she was single, despite being married to husband Ross and having two children with him.

Spankie was quizzed on her status several times between 2009 and 2014 but was adamant that she was single.

However, a tip-off then led to a “thorough” investigation, which uncovered the deception that saw her fraudulently receive the working and child tax credits.

Procurator Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson told Dundee Sheriff Court that the probe found the family had been on holiday to Florida in 2013 and that Ross was named as Spankie’s next-of-kin at her work.

She said: “On numerous occasions she reiterated that there had been no change in her circumstances to disclose to DWP.

“On some occasions she was actively asked if it was a single or joint application and she insisted it was single.”

Ms Robertson added: “When investigators got in touch with Ross Spankie asking him to interview, she phoned crying and said she had opened the letter to her partner which stated she was being investigated for tax credit fraud.

“She said her partner knew nothing of her claiming tax credits.”

David Duncan, defending, said: “The money has been repaid in full with some family support and through withdrawing money from their mortgage.

“She has two young children. She has fully accepted her involvement and she has genuine insight into the significance of this form of offending.

“Clearly, if people that shouldn’t be getting benefit are, then people who should be, perhaps, are not.”

Spankie, of Dundee, pleaded guilty to a charge under the Tax Credits Act and was given a community payback order with 300 hours of unpaid work.

Sheriff Elizabeth Munro told her: “I’m not imposing a prison sentence not because I feel sorry for you but because I’m more concerned for your family.

“You have defrauded the community – hard-working people – and I think you need to pay them back.”