IoM shop owner admits benefit fraud

A shop owner from Castletown wrongly claimed almost £17,000 in benefits over more than four years, a court’s heard.

Alison Mary Phillips of Orry Place appeared before magistrates at Douglas Courthouse.

She pleaded guilty to one count of failing to inform officials of a change in her circumstances and nine counts of making false representations to obtain benefits between November 2016 and April 2020.

The court heard the 63-year-old, who runs the Something Different gift shop on Malew Street in Castletown, had claimed incapacity benefit when she fell ill.

However, she didn’t tell the Treasury she’d continued to work at the shop, and falsely claimed £16,963.

Magistrates asked for pre-sentencing reports to be prepared and bailed her in the sum of £500 until she next appears on November 24.