Man caught wrongly claiming benefits after declaring income on tax return

Nine-month suspended sentence for 48-year-old

A Douglas man who claimed more than £14,000 in benefits he wasn’t entitled to was caught out after declaring his self-employed work on his tax return.

Matthew Johnston, of King Street, claimed Incapacity Benefit and MERA despite the fact he was working as a tradesman.

The 48-year-old admitted nine counts of benefit fraud, after failing to notify Treasury of a change in his circumstances, and one of making false representations to obtain benefits.

The offences were carried out between April 2020 and August 2022 and saw him overpaid by £14,257.

During sentencing at Douglas Courthouse the 48-year-old’s advocate said his client accepted his claims were ‘dishonest from the start’.

He explained how Johnston had suffered with ill health and was building his hours up and working when he felt well.

The court heard Johnston had declared this income on his tax return which had prompted an investigation into his financial situation.

When he was questioned by Treasury Johnston told officers: “I’ve no excuse” and offered to begin repaying the money.

Handing Johnston a nine-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years, Magistrates told him: “We do give you credit that you want to work despite your illness," adding: "I’m sure this has been a long and hard lesson to learn."

Johnston has also been made the subject of a Suspended Sentence Supervision Order.