Prosecutor Diane Jackson said the defendant, from Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, used the personal details of 'numerous' people to lodge Universal Credit claims James Stephen Barley 'hijacked' the identity of 68 people (Image: Glasgow Times / SWNS)

A prolific benefits fraudster raked in almost £170,000 in Universal Credit payments by "hijacking" the identity of dozens of people. James Stephen Barley, 37, has been warned he could be jailed for making almost 160 dishonest Department of Work and Pension (DWP) claims by pretending to be 68 people in three years. ‌

Prosecutor Diane Jackson said the defendant, from Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, used the personal details of “numerous” people to lodge Universal Credit claims, requesting advanced payments. Barley, who now has a

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