A fraudster has been fined £2,000 after claiming £4,000 in Covid-19 related benefits.

Sarah Hallworth appeared before the High Bailiff this week.

Prosecuting advocate James Robinson told the court that the 26-year-old was employed by a garden centre from November 2019.

In March 2020 she stopped working due to her employer closing for lockdown.

Hallworth submitted a claim online, on April 6, in relation to the Manx Earnings Replacement Allowance (MERA) and was awarded £200 per week, which she received until August 2.

She then received £100 per week up until September 11.

However, on April 30 her employer had received £1,120 in relation to the Salary Support Scheme, which it had paid on to Hallworth, who lives in Derby Road, Peel.

She then received another payment of £1,233 from the garden centre which was money received from the government in relation to the Salary Support Scheme, but also included one week’s work, on June 30.

Hallworth continued to work for the garden centre in July, August and September, but was receiving MERA and did not inform the department she had returned to work.

She was interviewed at Markwell House and handed in a prepared statement saying she had not fully understood the position and thought her employer would sort it out.

She then answered ’no comment’ when asked about emails she had received asking her to confirm that there had been no change in her circumstances.

It was calculated that she had received an overpayment in benefits of £4,000 which she has since paid back.

In court she pleaded guilty to DHSC fraud - failing to inform a change of circumstances.

A probation report said that Hallworth had admitted she had ’stuck her head in the sand’.

She told probation that she had been having difficulties at the time of the offence.

Defence advocate Ian Kermode said that his client’s claim had initially been a legitimate one and that she continued to work full-time.

Mr Kermode asked for credit to be given for Hallworth’s guilty plea, the fact that she has no previous relevant convictions, and that she had since paid back the benefits.

The advocate said that his client could pay any fine in full forthwith.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes ordered Hallworth to also pay £50 prosecution costs and gave her seven days to pay the fine and costs.