A 56-year-old Douglas woman has admitted three counts of benefit fraud after failing to tell authorities she had inherited a share of a house.

Michelle Jallow, of Springfield Road, also failed to declare that her husband was working while she claimed income support.

She will be sentenced on October 17 at 10am by Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes after the preparation of a probation report.

Prosecutor Barry Swain told the court how Jallow had been receiving income-based benefits since 2000.

From 2014 she had declared that her partner was not working and had no income.

However, after reviewing bank statements, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) found that Jallow’s husband had worked for Joe Crook Roofing and Bridson and Horrox since 2014.

Neither period of employment had been declared by Jallow while she was claiming income support.

A statement was obtained from Joe Crook Roofing confirming that Ms Jallow’s husband had worked three days in May 2017, earning £200.

Confirmation was also received from Bridson and Horrox that he had worked there between August 2014 and April 2015, earning £4,293.

None of the earnings had been disclosed to the DHSC.

Further investigations found that Jallow had inherited a share in a house when her mother had passed away.

The house had been sold for £132,500 and she was said to have received £44,166 as a lump sum in relation to her share.

Jallow was interviewed by the DHSC in May and confirmed that she knew she should have declared the changes in her circumstances.

She admitted knowing that her husband had been working for Bridson and Horrox and that she had failed to declare this on her claim form.

She said she realised she had done something wrong but did not take any of his earnings, which she said, were sent to his family in Gambia.

Regarding the inheritance, Jallow initially claimed she had only received £12,500 and it had been split between children and grandchildren.

However, during further questioning she was said to have become emotional and admitted to receiving more, saying that she used £33,000 to buy a three-bedroom house in Gambia.

Jallow said she realised she should have declared this but said she wanted to leave something for her kids.

Defending her in court advocate Peter Taylor said: ’£44,000 is a third of the house but she received three or four thousand less than that.

’She has offered to pay the overpayment back and will start as soon as a court order is made.’

Bail continues.