Murdered Brit teen Scarlett Keeling’s mum admits to benefit fraud

NEW DELHI - The mother of murdered British teenager Scarlett Keeling has admitted to falsely claiming 19,000 pounds in benefits.

According to The Times, 44-year-old Fiona MacKeown claimed the income support money between February 2005 and March 2008, including during the time of her daughter’s death in Goa.

MacKeown admitted to a Exeter Crown court that received the benefits while failing to declare she had additional income of 350 pounds a month in voluntary maintenance payments.

The charge relates to the three-year period before and just after daughter Scarlett’s body was discovered on Goa’s Anjuna Beach. Scarlett, 15, was found drugged, raped and murdered in February 2008.

Keeling, a mother-of-nine, admitted to one charge of obtaining money transfers by deception at Exeter Crown Court and was warned she could be jailed.

Judge Graham Cottle told her: “You dishonestly obtained at least 19,000 pounds over a period of several years. Notwithstanding you plea of guilty, there is every likelihood that you will receive a custodial sentence.” (ANI)