Suspended sentence for benefit fraud

A woman who admitted a £23,000 benefits fraud received £1,000 a month from a man she met through a "Sugar Dating" website - but her advocate said she hadn't given sexual favours in return.

Elizabeth Ann Edge of Heather Crescent in Pulrose appeared before High Bailiff Jayne Hughes at Douglas Courthouse.

The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to inform benefits staff of a change in circumstances and four of making false representations to obtain benefits between August 2018 and August 2020.

The court heard she'd been claiming income support but didn't declare the cash sent to her by a man identified as "Charles" in court, wrongly receiving £23,871.

When quizzed by officials as the fraud came to light, she said everybody was doing it and told them she wasn't bothered.

Defence advocate Ian Kermode said the online relationship had been strictly platonic and the two had slept separately when they met up in a Liverpool hotel.

Edge was jailed for 20 weeks, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay £50 costs at the rate of £5 per week from her benefits.

She's agreed to repay the money she claimed to the Treasury.