A GULF WAR veteran who failed to declare his armed forces occupational pension while filling out benefits forms has been fined £400.
Taxi driver John Smith, who is 58, pleaded guilty to the offence which dates back to 2010.
As well as being involved in the first Gulf War, in 1990 Smith of Greenbank Street, Galashiels, also served in Northern Ireland.
Selkirk Sheriff Court was told Smith is currently paying back more than £7,000 in housing benefit and council tax benefit to which he was not entitled.
He had declared his war pension on three forms but not the armed forces occupational pension which pays £720 a month.
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