A Douglas man has admitted a benefit fraud totalling £1,994 after failing to declare he was working as a kitchen porter.

Sean Peter Ross Maunders, of Quine’s Corner, pleaded guilty to three counts of making a false representation to obtain a benefit and will be sentenced on October 5 after a probation report has been completed.

Prosecuting advocate Hazel Carroon told the court that 28-year-old Maunders was claiming incapacity benefit and income support from July 2019 to February 2020.

In February 2020 information was received that he was working as a kitchen porter at the Courthouse bar in Athol Street.

Confirmation was received from the Douglas bar of Maunders’ employment and he was subsequently interviewed at Markwell House, the Department of Health and Social Care’s base.

He answered ’no comment’ when asked about his declarations on benefit claim forms.

Defence advocate Stephen Wood said that his client was paying back the money at a rate of £80 per month.

Mr Wood cited mitigation as his client’s guilty pleas and the relatively short period of offending, and said that the amount involved, though not insignificant, perhaps fell towards the lower end of amounts the courts deal with.

The advocate said that, had Maunders declared the work, he may still have been entitled to some benefits.

A doctor’s report described Maunders as ’vulnerable’ with ’ongoing difficulties’.

A probation report said that he would struggle with any fine due to having debts and was currently working with mental health services.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes ordered that a report from mental health services be prepared along with the probation report before sentencing.

Bail continues with a condition to co-operate with mental health services regarding the report.

Maunders was also bound over to keep the peace for 12 months for a separate incident committed on July 12 after a charge of threatening behaviour, which he had previously denied, was dismissed.