A CUMNOCK man claimed £14,153.76 through benefit fraud over a period of two years.

Daniel Murray, of Boswell Drive, changed a plea of not guilty to guilty when he appeared before Sheriff Mhari Mactaggart at Ayr Sheriff Court.

Between April 21, 2012 and February 4, 2014 at a previous address in Cumnock, Murray knowingly failed to give notification to the Department for Work and Pensions of his change in circumstances.

This, he knew, would affect his entitlement to his income support. Because of this, he obtained £7,832.41, which he was not entitled to.

On a similar occasion, between February 5, 2014 and February 16, 2014 at his current address, the 30-year-old, again, failed to give the correct information to the officials at the Department of Work and Pensions on his employment and support allowance application.

The accused said that the capital/savings that he had was less than £16,000 when he was earning in excess of £16,000.

Again, from this, Murray obtained £6,321.35 that he was not entitled to.

Speaking on behalf of his client, defence solicitor, Mr A Currie, stated that the total amount of money has been paid back.

Murray is to return on May 23 to Ayr Sheriff Court for a criminal report to be produced.