Jail term over 14 children fraud

Semple admitted defrauding Revenue and Customs between 2002 and 2006

A woman from East Dunbartonshire who fraudulently claimed £69,150 in benefits for 14 children who did not exist has been jailed for 18 months.

Catherine Semple told Revenue and Customs that her sister had died and she was looking after her children.

The 36-year-old also made up false disabilities for some of the children to qualify for even more money.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard how Semple was caught after officials found that she only had two children in her care.

The court heard that between October 2002 and April 2006 she claimed for four extra children of her own, five foster kids and five of her sister's children - none of whom existed.

Revenue and Customs decided to investigate after becoming suspicious about the number of children she was claiming for.

They also discovered that she was lying about the family's income and various disabilities.

'Comfortable lifestyle'

Semple's defence lawyer, David O'Hagan, told the court that she was giving a large amount of the money claimed to another unnamed person.

"There was no lavish lifestyle in this case, perhaps all it did was make things more comfortable for Mrs Semple," he said.

"Her husband was unaware until this case came to light that this was going on and the impact on her family has been devastating, many of her friends and family have ostracised her.

"She's extremely ashamed of her behaviour."

Semple has offered to pay some of the money back by selling her house.