Sister jailed for identity theft

Smith from Denny was sentenced to 15 months behind bars

A woman who stole her sister's identity to secure a mortgage and new job has been jailed for 15 months.

Jeannie Smith, 45, from Denny, near Falkirk, pretended to be her sister Linda Cowan, 35, obtaining £123,000 of goods in the process.

Sheriff Noel McPartlin told Smith at Edinburgh Sheriff Court that her crime had caused "enormous distress".

Smith admitted carrying out the fraud between December 2002 and December 2003.

Smith used her sister's identity because she had three previous convictions for fraud, including one which resulted in a nine-month jail sentence in 1999.

'Opportunistic way'

In addition to using her sister's details to get a £118,000 mortgage, Smith also had Mrs Cowan's medical records transferred to herself.

Mrs Cowan, who worked as an accountant, discovered her sister's deception after being contacted by a car company regarding overdue payments on a car which she had never owned.

Following investigations, it emerged that a catalogue of fraudulent transactions had been carried out in her name by Smith.

Procurator Fiscal Lesley Thomson told the court that Mrs Cowan had spent a long time trying to persuade people of what was going on.

Defence agent Alan Jackson described his client as acting in an "opportunistic way" because she wanted to make a fresh start after her husband was jailed for life.

Linda Cowan said she was happy with the verdict

Sheriff McPartlin said the sentence would have been 20 months without Smith's guilty plea.

He added: "This is a case involving identity theft which is a very distressing crime for the victim of it.

"It caused enormous difficulties to your sister, damaged her credit rating and gave her some concerns about her career.

"It is a very serious set of offences."

As she left court Mrs Cowan said she was glad the case was over.

She said: "I am happy with the result. I think the sentence was fine and I am just glad it is all over."