Tradesman claimed £14K in benefits he wasn't entitled to

48-year-old was claiming Incapacity Benefit whilst working

A tradesman from Dougals will be sentenced next month after admitting claiming £14,000 in benefits that he wasn’t entitled to.

Matthew Johnston, of King Street, appeared at Douglas Courthouse where he admitted making false representations to obtain benefits in October 2020.

He’d previously entered guilty pleas to eight offences of failing to inform Treasury that his circumstances had changed between November that year and August 2022.

The 48-year-old also admitted failing to give prompt notification about changes to his situation, between April and September 2020, whilst he was claiming the Manx Earnings Replacement Allowance.

Magistrates were told Johnston had applied for incapacity benefit in 2020 due to short term sickness but continued to receive it despite working and being paid by his employer.

A social enquiry report has been requested before he’s sentenced on 23 March; Johnston was bailed until that date.