Camilla’s Benefits Cheat Cousin Faces JAIL After ‘Sophisticated’ £60k Benefit Fraud Scam

Dru Edmonstone yesterday pleaded guilty to a “significant and sophisticated” series of benefit frauds.

He used the names of his sister, ex-wife, former housekeeper and employee of his dad to claim income support, tax credits, carers’ allowance and disability living allowance.

The 46-year-old, who lives on the 6000-acre Stirlingshire estate in Scotland, also fraudulently obtained thousands in housing benefits.

In one scam, he pretended he was looking after a 12-year-old child with mental health difficulties.

Edmonstone produced a bogus letter in support of the claim from a GP practice saying he was “fully responsible” for the child.

Prosecutor Krysten Buist said Edmonstone’s bank account showed falsely claimed payments coming in and “large payments going out to a financial spread-betting company".

The scam reportedly came to light when his sister, Elyssa Edmonstone, made a “general inquiry about making additional payments to her UK national insurance account".

Buist said: “She confronted him in the presence of their mother and he ultimately admitted he had made the claims using his sister’s name and her NI number.”

Image: Dru Edmonstone yesterday pleaded guilty to a “significant and sophisticated” series of benefit frauds.

The former financier appeared to weep as he pleaded guilty at Stirling Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Wyllie Robertson told him: “Irrespective of questions of repayment, it is still a very significant figure and a custodial sentence is inevitable.

“This was a serious offence with a considerable degree of sophistication in planning and execution.”

Edmonstone will be brought back to court to be sentenced on February 21.

His great-grandmother Alice Keppel is also Camilla’s great-grandmother.