A Port Erin has admitted a charge of fraud after presenting a forged doctor’s note and landlord’s signature to government Social Security staff.

Brandon James Robley, aged 20, of Fairyhill Close, in Port Erin pleaded guilty to the charges of fraud by false representation and uttering with intent to deceive.

He will be sentenced on July 24 after a probation report has been completed.

Prosecutor Michael Jelski told the court how Robley was issued with a doctor’s certificate signing him off work between the dates of April 23 and May 23.

On April 26, he attended the Social Security office based at Markwell House in Douglas and presented a certificate to claim incapacity benefit.

However, staff noticed that the end date of the certificate had been changed to August 23.

It was also found that a landlord’s signature on a note detailing rental costs for a property in Ramsey had been forged.

Magistrates heard that Robley had been claiming for the rent he said he was paying but the landlord said he had never lived at the property or paid any rent.

When arrested, Robley admitted to police that he had changed the medical certificate date, saying that he wanted to go camping for the summer and didn’t want to have to go back to the doctors.

He also admitted not living at the Ramsey address and said he believed he had received between £1,000 and £1,200 which he should not have.

He claimed he gave the landlord £250 but said he spent the rest on gambling and alcohol.

When Robley appeared in court on Tuesday, he was granted bail in the sum of £500 with a condition that he contacts the probation service.