Benefits fraudster made £30,000 on eBay

A Pulrose man has admitted benefits fraud by making more than £30,000 in undeclared income on eBay.

43 year old Paul Robinson of Laburnum Avenue admitted ten charges of making false representations to obtain benefit.

Magistrates at Douglas Courthouse heard Robinson was charged jointly with his 36 year old partner Toni Milligan, who didn’t enter any pleas.

Robinson was claiming Employed Person’s Allowance between June 2017 and December 2018, but was buying and selling Manx coins on the auction website using two accounts.

But he didn’t declare his income to the Treasury, and wrongly claimed almost £12,000 in benefits.

Prosecution advocate Richard Butters told the hearing when he was confronted by police, Robinson made a full confession and said he was glad he’d been caught.

Legal aid was granted to both Robinson and Miss Milligan, and both were bailed in the sum of £500.

A social enquiry report into Robinson’s circumstances will be completed before he’s sentenced.

Both will appear in court again on March 21.