A Peel woman has been handed a suspended sentence for a £16,919 benefit fraud.

Helen Sanders, also known as McNicholl, failed to inform the authorities that she had been working at Praxis Care while claiming income support benefit.

The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to five counts of benefit fraud and was sentenced to two months in custody, suspended for one year.

She was also fined £300 and ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs.

The court heard that Sanders has already begun paying back the £16,919 via an agreement with the Department of Health and Social Care.

We previously reported that the offences had been committed over a two-year period but had not been constant, and Sanders’ claim had not been fraudulent from the outset.

Information was received by the department in September 2020 that Sanders had been working for Praxis while claiming benefits.

Bank statements were examined which showed her receiving payments from Praxis.

When interviewed by social security representatives Sanders admitted she had returned to work but claimed she was being bullied and could not call the department to advise them.

When asked why she had not sent an email or left a message she had no explanation.

The total amount of benefits received which she was not entitled to was £16,919.88.

Defence advocate Louise Cooil said that her client was a single parent and had been working on a zero hours contract, with a period during lockdown when she did not work.

Ms Cooil said that Sanders, who lives at Magher Drive, was a carer for her partner and young child and asked the court to consider their article eight human rights.

The advocate said that her client had since set up her own cleaning business.

Deputy High Bailiff James Brooks told Sanders: ’I accept you didn’t spend the money on luxuries and it was to make ends meet, and that you have started making repayments.’

The Deputy High Bailiff sentenced her to two months custody for each count, all to run concurrently, but suspended for a year.

She was ordered to pay the fine and costs at a rate of £10 per week.