A 52-year-old Douglas man has been sentenced to community service for £3,859 benefit fraud.

Stephen Taylor, of Drury Terrace, admitted six counts of making false representation to obtain a benefit.

Prosecutor James Robinson told the court how, in September 2016, Taylor had started claiming job seekers’ allowance.

However, in March 2017 a discrepancy was picked up by social security relating to Taylor acting as a landlord for two tenants at his address.

It was said that two people were residing at the property which he himself rented and were paying Taylor rent.

He had never declared this and was subsequently interviewed by social security.

Taylor admitted three people were living at his address and said that the landlord who he rented the property from had given him permission to sublet.

He admitted that the other two parties had been paying him rent and that he had failed to declare this.

He told social security staff that he had not deliberately set out to defraud the government and would repay any overpayment.

In a basis of plea, accepted by the prosecution Taylor said that he did not gain financially and that he had passed all the rent on to his landlord.

He admitted that the rent had however helped him to afford to be able to live at the property.

A probation report was ordered before sentencing and was prepared by probation services who were in court.

Defending Taylor in court his advocate said that Taylor had very limited income and owed £5,000 in rent.

He was ordered by magistrates to perform 60 hours’ community service in the next 12 months

And he must repay the overpayment of £3,859 at a rate of £10 per week.