THE wife of a two-time ex-Mayor of Pembroke Dock has admitted claiming benefits to which she was not entitled totalling £13,355.

During an initial hearing at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on August 23, Doris Kraus, 68, of Kent Row, Llanion Park, Pembroke Dock, pleaded not guilty to dishonestly failing to promptly notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) between April 2011 and December 2013 that her husband, current Town Councillor Peter Kraus, was in paid employment which would affect her entitlement to Pension Credit.

Cllr Kraus was Mayor from May 2012 to May 2013, and again held the office from 2015 to 2016.

The case was scheduled for summary trial at the court yesterday (September 28), where the charge was withdrawn and replaced with a similar offence indicating that although Kraus had failed to notify the DWP, she had not done so dishonestly.

Kraus pleaded guilty to this lesser charge.

Due to the amount of overpayment, Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for a confiscation order to be considered, and for sentence.

Kraus was released on unconditional bail to appear in Swansea on October 28.