A benefit fraudster who had posed as his dead father demanded an interpreter in court despite living in Britain for 20 years.
Hassan Mirza, 43, originally from Pakistan, had previously been jailed for eight months in 2022 for fraudulently raking in £22,000 in benefits over a two-year period.
And the 43-year-old, who now lives in Dundee, appeared in court again after he admitted engaging in a course of abusive behaviour towards his wife.
When Mirza was questioned, he told Dundee Sheriff Court: "My English is not so good."
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He said this despite having lived in Scotland for 20 years.
He engaged in abusive behaviour towards his wife Saira Arif between May 2023 and September 2024.
His wife took issue with his repeated trips to Sweden, where Mirza's adult children live.
Mirza cut himself repeatedly in front of Ms Arif, blaming her for his actions, the court heard.
Dundee Sheriff Court, where it was heard how Mirza engaged in a course of abusive behaviour towards his wife
|WIKIMEDIA
He also grabbed her by the neck and pushed her, smashed her phone, and chased her out of their joint home, Sheriff Paul Ralph, presiding over the case, heard.
"For a period of almost 18 months you were abusing your wife. That behaviour is completely unacceptable," Sheriff Ralph said.
He added: "Some of the responses you gave to social workers indicate you have not reflected on your behaviour."
Solicitor Annika Jethwa, defending, said the background report prepared by social workers was "extremely poor".
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Mirza claimed he was his father while on the phone with DWP
| PAShe claimed he did speak English after living in the country after 20 years.
However, she added that "he is sometimes not following things said to him".
"He did not have the benefit of an interpreter," she said in Mirza's defence.
Sheriff Ralph placed Mirza under supervision for two years so social workers can "challenge his attitudes".
He was also given 200 hours of community service.
In 2022, Mirza was ordered to pay back just £1 of the money he received while claiming to be his deceased father.
He admitted he first claimed to have power of attorney for his father, using his details to fill out benefits claims.
The court heard how on telephone calls with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), he answered security questions and gave information while claiming to be his father.
In addition to saying his English was "not so good", Mirza also claimed a mystery man from Pakistan told him how to carry out the scheme.