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Benefit cheat must 'pay back' to community

Fri, 24 Jul 2015

A Castletown woman who wrongly claimed over £4,000 in benefits has been told she must carry out community service as "pay back".

45-year-old Jennifer Boyle was sentenced at Douglas Courthouse earlier this week where she was ordered to do 160 hours of unpaid work.

She'd previously admitted five counts of making false representations to obtain benefits between July 2010 and June 2014 - claiming £4,349.01 that she wasn't entitled to.

The court heard she'd started working whilst still claiming benefits - her advocate said her significant health issues at the time may have led to "ill advised judgements".

Sentencing her Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said she accepted Boyle felt "ashamed" for what she'd done but told her the money had been diverted to her at a time she didn't need it.

Boyle, who has already paid £900 back, has been ordered to continue paying back the overpayment - she was also ordered to pay £50 in prosecution costs. 

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