A 44-year-old man has admitted a benefit fraud after failing to declare property worth £570,000 which he owned.

Darren Shafik-Mikail, of Carrick Park, Sulby, appeared in court via video link from the UK where he was said to be currently involved in family proceedings.

He pleaded guilty to five counts of benefit fraud and will be sentenced on May 11 after a probation report has been completed.

The fraud resulted in Shafik-Mikail being overpaid benefits of just under £25,000 to which he was not entitled.

Prosecuting advocate James Robinson told the court how Shafik-Mikail was claiming Job Seekers’ Allowance between January 2018 and April 2020, and then from May 2020 to June 2020.

In July last year information was received that Shafik-Mikail had failed to declare property he owned in the United States and in Ireland, as well as five bank accounts.

When interviewed by the DHSC he confirmed he had signed the JSA declarations but said that staff had filled in some of the forms as he was medicated at the time.

Shafik-Mikail said he was going through a divorce and didn’t know if he owned the properties.

The Irish property was valued at £360,000 while the US one was said to be worth £210,000.

Shafik-Mikail was also said to be living in a property worth £460,000, which he had declared.

During interview, he claimed that the US property had been fraudulently sold for $100 without his knowledge so he didn’t know if he owned it.

Shafik-Mikail also said that he was in arrears with mortgage payments and was struggling to survive.

Prosecutor Mr Robinson said that the case was borderline when it came to committing to the higher court or remaining in the lower court, but the guilty pleas may make it just suitable for summary court.

The court heard that he has no previous convictions.

Shafik-Mikail was represented in court by advocate Laurence Vaughan-Williams who asked for a probation report to be prepared before sentencing.

Magistrates accepted jurisdiction and bail was granted in the sum of £1,000 with a condition to contact probation.