Man jailed over 36 children claim

Fraser was sentenced at Aberdeen Sheriff Court

A father-of-two who fraudulently claimed almost £80,000 in benefits for 36 children has been jailed.

Irvin Fraser, 30, claimed child tax credits over three years from two addresses in Aberdeen.

Fraser induced HM Revenue to make payments totalling £79,718. He was jailed for 13 months at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Alexander Jessop said it was a "whacking" amount to be paid, and expressed surprise it was not detected.

Fraser admitted making fraudulent claims from Tullos Circle and Abbey Road between November 2003, and June 2006.

Fraser explained: "I was claiming child tax credit for my son and just added another name by chance.

I wanted to stop but it just snowballed and spiralled out of control Irvin Fraser

"They never asked for any documents. It went on for two years and I got away with it.

"I couldn't understand why they did not pick up on it. How could someone claim to have so many children but not be old enough to have them?"

He said: "I wanted to stop but it just snowballed and spiralled out of control. I withdrew my last claim but they still paid £4,000 into the bank account.

"I stupidly spent it, and that's when I got caught."

Spending spree

Fraser said he went on spending sprees buying clothes, toys and other products to "spoil his children rotten".

He said he also spent thousands of pounds on his wedding at Duthie Park's Winter Gardens in 2005.

Fraser's lawyer, Shane Campbell, told the court the case may have seen methods of keeping a check and verifying claims of this particular nature being revised.

It's an extraordinary case, someone should have spotted it Frank Doran Aberdeen North MP

Mr Campbell said: "But that's how easy it was for him to become involved."

Aberdeen North Labour MP Frank Doran said serious questions had to be asked why such a "Guinness Book of Records" case involving claims of 36 children could be allowed to happen.

He said: "It's an extraordinary case, someone should have spotted it. There should be alarm bells ringing."

'Public purse'

HMRC assistant director of investigation in Scotland, Anne-Marie Gordon, said: "This case shows that the defendant deliberately claimed tax credits to which he was not entitled, in a premeditated attack on the tax credits system.

"Making fraudulent tax credit claims is not a victimless crime and he had little consideration for the public purse.

"This investigation has shown our determination to seek out people who are tempted to cheat the tax credit system by submitting fraudulent claims."

She added: "The vast majority of tax credits claimants are honest and claim only what they are entitled to, but those who believe that they can cheat the system without consideration or second thought should think again.

"The sentence reflects the seriousness with which the courts take this type of offence."

Not guilty pleas from co-accused Annette Fraser, 37, were accepted.