Woman admits fraudulently claiming £18,500 in benefits

Claim was dishonest from the outset

A Braaid woman has admitted fraudulently claiming more than £18,500 in benefits.

Forty-four-year-old Samantha Jane Etchells, of St Marks Road, appeared before magistrates at Douglas Courthouse.

She pleaded guilty to failing to inform the Treasury about a change in her circumstances and four offences of making false representations to obtain benefits.

The benefits claim began in April 2020 and was dishonest from the outset.

Magistrates were told Etchells hadn't told officials about her husband's work and hadn't mentioned bank accounts in her name.

Over around 17 months Etchells was wrongly paid a total of £18,531.

Magistrates bailed her while pre-sentencing reports are prepared by the probation service - she is due to appear for sentencing on 14 April.