Man who netted almost £15,000 from dishonest benefits claim, given suspended jail sentence

A man who netted almost £15,000 from a dishonest benefits claim has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Matthew Johnston of King Street in Douglas appeared before magistrates at Douglas Courthouse.

The 48 year old admitted nine counts of failing to inform officials of a change in circumstances and one of making false representations to obtain benefits between April 2020 and November 2021.

Prosecutor Barry Swain told the court Johnston had been self-employed while claiming incapacity benefit and had been wrongly paid £14,257.

The hearing was told Johnston was repaying the money at the rate of £10 per week.

Magistrates jailed him for nine months, suspended for two years, but didn’t order him to pay costs.