A MUSSELBURGH benefits cheat wrongly claimed more than £47,000.

Angela Hogg claimed disability benefit after she claimed she was confined to a wheelchair and could not walk 800 yards.

Hogg, of Pinkie Avenue, also said her disability prevented her from carrying shopping bags and performing everyday tasks without help.

But an investigation by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) found Hogg’s condition not to be as bad as she had made out.

Hogg had falsely claimed £47,300 from the DWP and the Disability and Carers Service over a near-10-year period after she failed to inform the agencies of an improvement in her condition.

But when Hogg, 59, appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court for sentencing last week after previously pleading guilty, she was told that, despite social work and psychological reports being available, a further deferment was needed as Sheriff Nigel Ross wanted information regarding a possible electronic tag being fitted on the accused.

Solicitor Mary Moultrie said that her client was currently repaying the cash, she had “accepted culpability” and that there had been “no real planning" of the offence.

She said Hogg continued to suffer from a “chronic pain situation” and there was “no likelihood of reoffending” from her client.

Sentence was deferred to April 15.

Hogg admitted to failing to report she was not confined to a wheelchair, could walk unaided up to 800 yards and could stand for long periods of time between November 26, 2002, and June 19, 2012, and obtaining £47,300 of disability living allowance that she was not entitled to.