32-year-old paid more than £26,000 she wasn't entitled to

Woman pleads guilty to six counts of benefit fraud

A benefits fraudster who wrongly claimed more than £26,000 will be sentenced in September.

Thirty-two-year-old Sarah Leanne Corkill, of Westbourne Road in Ramsey, appeared before magistrates at Douglas courthouse.

She pleaded guilty to six counts of making false representations to obtain benefits.

Prosecution advocate Rachael Braidwood told the court Corkill had begun claiming employed person's allowance in 2014 but didn't tell officials her partner had moved in with her in 2018.

Investigators were tipped off and examined bank statements, insurance quotes and Facebook photos before putting her home under surveillance.

They spotted a man leaving the house in the morning and returning in the evening – when interviewed Corkill initially denied he was living with her but eventually admitted wrongdoing when confronted with evidence.

The hearing was told in total she'd been paid £26,167 she wasn't entitled to.

She was bailed in the sum of £500 and pre-sentencing reports will be prepared before she next appears on 9 September.