Benefit cheat caught out after taking company to employment tribunal

55-year-old was claiming Income Support whilst working

A Douglas man will be sentenced in the new year after admitting claiming more than £6,700 in benefits he wasn’t entitled to.

Jeremy James Rennison, of Mona Drive, failed to inform Treasury his circumstances had changed after initially claiming incapacity support.

At Douglas Courthouse the 55-year-old admitted committing two offences of benefit fraud between 28 May 2023 and 4 May this year.

The court heard Rennison was working whilst claiming Income Support; his offending came to light after he successfully took a company to an employment tribunal after it failed to pay his wages.

When interviewed by Treasury Rennison said he’d started working as he couldn’t afford to live on benefits and that he knew what he was doing was illegal.

A social enquiry report has been requested before he’s sentenced on 28 January; bail continues.

Update: At Douglas Courthouse Rennison was sentenced to nine weeks custody for each offence, to run concurrently, but suspended for two years. He must also pay £300 in prosecution costs.