Camilla’s benefits cheat cousin faces JAIL after ‘sophisticated’ £60k benefit fraud scam

CAMILLA Parker Bowles’ benefit fraud cousin faces jail after scamming £60,000 in bogus benefits.

By Tom Towers /

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.

Camilla Parker Bowles and Dru Edmonstone GETTY/SCOTTISH CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY

GUILTY: Dru Edmonstone fraudulently obtained thousands in benefits

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".

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    “It is a very significant figure and a custodial sentence is inevitable”

    Sheriff Wyllie Robertson

    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.”

    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.

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      “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.