A Ramsey woman has been handed a suspended sentence after admitting a £50,395 benefit fraud.

Sara Louise Adamson failed to declare some of her income while she was working at the office of the coroner for Ayre and Garff and that her partner was living with her.

The 34-year-old pleaded guilty to seven counts of making false representation to obtain a benefit and two of DHSS fraud - failure to inform a change of circumstances.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes sentenced the 34-year-old to 26 weeks custody, suspended for two years.

The court heard that she has so far repaid £1,010 of the £50,395 and is making repayments under an agreement with the treasury.

We previously reported how Adamson, who lives at Close Thunag, was claiming Employed Person’s Allowance (EPA) from December 2014 based on her being a lone parent.

However, in February this year, information was received that she had been living with her partner for a number of years without declaring it.

An investigation of tax records showed that her partner had stated that he had moved in with her in April 2018.

Vehicle system checks also confirmed that his vehicle was registered at Adamson’s address and he had made an application for a driving licence using the address.

Social media showed that they had been in a relationship since 2016.

Further investigations found that Adamson had received extra commission payments during her employment which she had not declared.

Her address was put under surveillance between May 4 and May 28 and her partner was seen leaving the home every morning.

When interviewed at Markwell House, Adamson said she had ’forgotten’ to inform the department that her partner had moved in.

When quizzed about her undeclared income she replied: ’Yes, I will hold my hands up.’

Adamson said that the man had moved into her home between lockdowns.

As a result of the failure to declare the information she was overpaid an amount in benefits of £50,395.65.

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Defence advocate Kate Alexander asked the court to follow the recommendation of a probation report which suggested a suspended sentence as an appropriate penalty.

Ms Alexander said that Adamson’s benefits claim was not fraudulent from the outset and she had no previous convictions.

The advocate also asked for credit to be given for her client’s guilty pleas and her admissions during an interview.

Ms Alexander also referred to a psychiatric report which she did not wish to go into in open court.

High Bailiff Mrs Hughes sentenced Adamson to 26 weeks for each of the nine offences, but all to run concurrently, and suspended for two years.

She must also pay £50 prosecution costs within seven days.