A 38-year-old man from Douglas has been sentenced to community service after admitting a £2,094 benefit fraud.

Treadwell Sinclair Eugene Nesbitt, of Ballaughton Manor Hill, claimed benefits based on an address at which he was not living.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes sentenced him to 120 hours community service and ordered that he repay the £2,094 at a rate of £20 a fortnight, deducted from benefits.

Prosecuting advocate Roger Kane told the court that police received an allegation against Nesbitt from the owner of the property at Woodville Terrace in Douglas on July 26.

The landlord said that the flat had been unoccupied for a year and that letters were being delivered there to Nesbitt from the Treasury.

The man said that Nesbitt had told him he could not pay rent for the property because the DHSC had refused to pay.

Forms provided showed the landlord’s signature but he said that he had no knowledge of the forms and he had not signed them.

When interviewed by the DHSC Nesbitt claimed he had been giving money to the landlord’s son but admitted he had never slept at the property and had only been there for parties.

Mr Kane said that a benefit overpayment had been made to Nesbitt of £2,094.52.

A probation report said that Nesbitt told probation he had used some of the money to pay for another address he was living at.

The report recommended a sentence of community service.

Defence advocate Jane Gray asked for credit to be given for her client’s guilty plea and for the court to follow the recommendation.

The court heard that Nesbitt has previous convictions but none for dishonesty.