No jail term for tax cheat

By The Newsroom
Published 14th Jul 2011, 12:09 BST
Updated 15th Jul 2011, 13:11 BST
A RETIRED police officer who conned the benefits system out of more than £16,000 has avoided jail.

Colin Burgoyne, 48, of Gilmerton Road, was instead ordered to carry out 150 hours of community service.

The court heard he initially legitimately claimed child tax credit to pay for nursery fees but when his children left he carried on claiming and used the cash to help pay school fees.

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At a previous hearing fiscal depute James O'Reilly told Edinburgh Sheriff Court that first offender Burgoyne scammed 11,341.69 one year and 5,197 the second year.

Burgoyne admitted carrying out the offence between April 6, 2006, and September 5, 2007. The case finally resolved last month after having a number of adjournments over three years due to Burgoyne's ill health.