A 40 year old woman who made false statements to obtain social security benefits has been given a hundred day prison sentence, suspended for two years, coupled with a supervision order.

Lorraine Potts of Mill Street Castletown appeared before the Deputy High Bailiff and admitted four offences committed in 2005.

The defendant, who was on benefits, obtained employment but failed to inform the DHSS that her circumstances had changed.

Rachel Braidwood, prosecuting, said had the defendant declared her earnings she would still have been entitled to some benefit. As a result she was overpaid the sum of ?9,942 but with what she would have been entitled to claim, the sum had now been reduced to ?7,200 (corr)

Mr Montgomery ordered the defendant to pay the sum of ?2000 towards that figure, with costs of ?150.