A man from Randalstown has been convicted of benefit fraud after he claimed nearly £6,000 in Universal Credit to which he was not entitled.

Andrew Conner, 40, of Drumsough Road, appeared at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court and was sentenced to 150 hours of community service. He had received £5,975 in payments while failing to declare his income.

The fraud was detected by an investigation carried out by the Department for Communities. Conner pleaded guilty to the charge.

The court also granted an installment order requiring him to repay the full overpaid amount to the Department. If he fails to comply with the repayment terms, he faces a potential six-month custodial sentence.

Suspected benefit fraud can be reported confidentially to the Department for Communities via its website.