A benefit fraudster has been fined £250 after stealing £4,265 from the public purse.

Leanne Bartley, aged 28, of Springfield Avenue, Douglas, failed to tell authorities that her partner was living with her while she was claiming benefits.

The court heard how Bartley was claiming employed persons allowance from February 2017 on the basis she was a lone parent with one child. However, information was received that she was living with her partner.

Surveillance was organised by the Department of Health and Social Care, which observed the partner leaving the property between 6.52am and 7.14am daily. He was then seen returning at around 5.10pm.

Both Bartley and her partner were invited for interview by the department. The man admitted he had been living at the property while Bartley confessed she knew her benefit would be affected by him living there.

The total overpayment of benefits was £4,265.68.

Defending Bartley in court her advocate Louise Cooil said that her client would not be suitable for community service as she was the sole carer of her child and also worked.

Ms Cooil said: ’They began living together in March 2017. The claim is from February 2017.

’She was not aware he was going to be living there. It was not fraudulent from the outset. It was a last minute decision for him to move into the property. She wasn’t always sure she would have sufficient money to meet all their outgoings. It weighed on her mind continuously. She co-operated fully with the investigation.’

Ms Cooil went on to ask for her client to be given credit for her early guilty plea and the fact that she had started paying the money back at a rate of £20 per week. Magistrates also made an order for compensation in the sum of £4,265.68.