Man fined: Court

Samuel Johnston (58), a full-time carer of Castlecatt Road, appeared at the Magistrates Departmental in Coleraine on Friday.

He pleaded guilty that on a date unknown between January 28, 2004 and October 3, 2008, with a view to obtaining Housing Benefit he did dishonestly fail to notify the Housing Executive of a change in his circumstances in that he did not report he had capital in excess of the statutory limit.

He admitted a second charge that on March 14, 2005, with a view to obtaining Income Support he dishonestly made a representation which he knew to be false because he had capital in excess of the statutory limit.

A defence lawyer said the defendant had saved up his benefits “for a rainy day”.

District Judge Alan White said the case involved a substantial amount of public money but he said he treated ‘excess capital’ cases differently.

He told the defendant: “if you had spent the money yoau would not have got into trouble.”