A SELKIRK woman who admitted a benefits fraud involving almost £27,000 has avoided prison after the town's sheriff court was told she was paying back the money.

Rebecca Fairley failed to notify the Department of Work and Pensions and Scottish Borders Council of a change of circumstances that she was living with her partner who was working as a tree surgeon.

The 33-year-old mother-of-three pleaded guilty to claiming £10,811 of Income Support and £15,964 of housing benefit she was not entitled to.

The offence happened over a four year period between October 2012 and February 2017 at a house at Lindean, near Selkirk.

Stable yard worker Fairley, who gave an address at Dryden, near Selkirk, is now repaying the money at a rate of £100 a month.

Sheriff Euan Edmont told her she had narrowly avoided being sent to jail due to the sum involved and imposed the maximum of 300 hours unpaid work.

In addition she was placed on a night time home curfew between the hours of 7pm and 6am.

The sheriff said the sentences were an alternative to custody.