A KILBIRNIE man has admitted claiming nearly £60,000 worth of benefits he was not entitled to.

Robert Costine pleaded guilty to a pair of charges when he appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court in relation to the matter on Tuesday, July 23.

Costine, 57, admitted knowingly failing to give prompt notification to officials of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of a change of circumstances which he knew effected his entitlement or other payment of advantage - on two occasions.

This led to the Kilbirnie man, of Balgray Avenue, obtaining Disability Living Allowance of £29,037.90, which he was not entitled to, between August 1, 2013 and December 11, 2018.

Further to this, between August 1, 2013 and February 13, 2019, Costine obtained Income Support of £29,200.20 which he was also not entitled to.

The matter first came to the attention of the DWP in January 2019, when a referral was received by their visiting team for a young person who was turning 16, and as a result the Disability Living Allowance - received on their behalf - changed to a Personal Independence Payment.

Procurator fiscal depute Jaide Podlesny explained that an effort was made to make correspondence with person so they could complete the relevant forms to make the change.

After contact was made by the DWP visiting officers with North Ayrshire Council, details were found stating that the person - who was described as a relative under the guardianship of Costine - lived with him at his address.

The Kilbirnie man was then telephoned by officers, and the 57-year-old informed them at this stage that he was no longer the guardian of the teen, who had been taken in to the care of a local authority.

Ms Podlesny stated that Costine told officers he had informed DWP that the relative was no longer living with him.

Officers then advised North Ayrshire Council that the person had been taken into care and as a result a report was then compiled and sent to the DWP counter fraud team.

As a result, it was found that Costine had falsely claimed Disability Living Allowance and Income Support totally £58,238.10 over the stated period.

Defending, solicitor Gillian Swanney said that reports would be required prior to sentence being imposed. She asked that Costine be allowed bail, as he has been in the past, prior to a sentencing date being set.

Addressing Sheriff Colin Bissett, Ms Swanney added that the Kilbirnie man was “well aware that custody will be utmost in your lordship’s mind”.

Sheriff Bissett commented: "These are serious charges. You have taken £58,000 to which you are not entitled."

However, the Sheriff allowed bail to continue and called for reports, deferring sentence to a later date.