Greenock woman accused of £24k Universal Credit fraud in trial no-show

An arrest warrant has now been issued for Louise McIntosh after the 36-year-old failed to turn up for the continuation of proceedings in the case which began two months ago.

The court was told previously that McIntosh had savings totalling tens of thousands of pounds at the time she is alleged to have unlawfully claimed £24,155.86 in Universal Credit (UC) payments between March 2017 and August 2018.

Defence solicitor Amy Spencer told the latest calling of the case that her client was 'not able to come to court' as she was 'locked in her own house'.

The trial began in April with prosecutors alleging McIntosh knowingly made a false statement or representation on a UC claim form.

Court papers allege that McIntosh, of Inverkip Street, claimed she did not have savings or investments in excess of £6,000.

It is alleged that she did have savings over the prescribed limit, and the court was told previously that she actually had more than £42,000 in undeclared savings.

READ MORE: Greenock woman on trial accused of £24k benefits fraud

The charge against her further claims that she received the money to which she was not entitled 'while acting with another'.

The trial previously heard that documents showed McIntosh had received monthly payments of around £1,400 over the 17-month period.

The court heard evidence from a Crown witness who works as a fraud investigator with the Department of Work and Pensions and had received a referral from HMRC regarding McIntosh's case.

The witness explained to the court that anyone with savings or investments of over £16,000 is not entitled to claim UC, while those with savings of between £6,000 and £16,000 can claim support at a reduced rate.

McIntosh had allegedly submitted a claim for full support, on behalf of herself and her partner Bryan McDonald, stating they had less than £6,000 in savings.

Sheriff Sheena Fraser granted a warrant to have her apprehended.