A man has heard a prison sentence is a possible punishment after he committed a £10,000-plus benefit fiddle during over three years.
Brian Thomas Mingins, 58, admitted one dishonesty offence when he appeared at Carlisle magistrates’ court today.
The court heard Mingins had initially claimed universal credit from the Department for Work and Pensions lawfully having stated he was unable to work and had less than £6,000 in savings.
But that then became an unlawful claim when it was later discovered the defendant’s capital resources stretched beyond the £6,000 limit.
Mingins made admissions in interview and from the court dock pleaded guilty to a charge of dishonestly failing to notify a change in circumstances affecting entitlement to benefits.
This occurred in the Carlisle area during a period of almost three years, between July 2020 and May 3 2023, when the total amount unlawfully claimed by Mingins was £10,603.96.
Government rules state that any capital or savings above £6,000 are treated as a monthly income and would bring about a reduction in any benefits being claimed.
The court heard the DWP would be making arrangements to claw back the money dishonestly claimed in due course.
Mingins must wait to discover what his punishment will be after magistrates adjourned the case and ordered the preparation of a probation service pre-sentence report which will provide more details about his offending and personal circumstances.
Defence solicitor Duncan Campbell, giving mitigation, had said of the fraudulent benefit claim: “The position here is that it was an oversight initially. As time went on, he realised the situation was one he should have reported to the Department. There are all sorts of reasons for that.”
Mingins, now of Knowe Crescent, Newarthill, Motherwell, is due to be sentenced at the magistrates’ court on April 23.
