31-year-old sentenced after repeat offending
A Ballasalla woman has been ordered to carry out unpaid work for the good of the Manx community after fraudulently claiming more than £7,000 in benefits.
Abbey Cara Louise Gilman, of Clagh Vane, was sentenced at Douglas Courthouse after pleading guilty to four offences of making false representations to obtain the taxpayer’ backed support.
Between January and September last year the 31-year-old made claims for Jobseekers Allowance and Income Support but failed to declare her true income or her correct address.
It meant she was overpaid £7,039.46p.
The court had previously heard an investigation was started by Treasury after the department received an anonymous tip off.
Gilman’s bank statements were analysed which showed she was receiving money for work she was doing as a taxi driver and sports coach.
Utility bills from the Department of Infrastructure property she was supposed to be living at were also checked which showed very little usage from January onwards.
During sentencing the court was told Gilman had previously been convicted for similar offences in 2016.
Imposing a combination order of community service and 12 months’ probation Deputy High Bailiff Rachael Braidwood told Gilman: “These offences were dishonest from the outset.
“You would have known income, in particular, needed to be declared.”
Gilman was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £50.
The court heard Gilman is repaying the overpayment from her benefits at a rate of £20 per week and has paid £400 off the total so far.
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