April sentencing for benefit fraudster

A woman who admitted wrongly claiming more than £18,000 in benefits will be sentenced in April.

Samantha Jane Etchells of St Marks Road in Braaid appeared before magistrates at Douglas Courthouse.

She admitted four counts of making false representations to obtain benefits and one of failing to inform officials of a change in circumstances between April 2020 and September last year.

Prosecutor Rebecca Cubbon told the court the 44-year-old hadn’t told the Treasury her husband was working, and also failed to mention bank accounts she had.

In total, she was overpaid £18,531.

Magistrates asked for pre-sentencing reports to be prepared and bailed Etchells in the sum of £500.

She’s next due to appear in court on April 14.