A 53-year-old man has been handed a suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to benefit fraud offences in Strabane. Thomas Brown was sentenced at Laganside Court on Monday, having admitted two charges of failing to declare a change of circumstances and two charges of dishonestly making a false statement to obtain benefits. The court imposed a two-year custodial term, suspended for three years, and ordered him to pay £30,000 in compensation within two years.

The fraud came to light after a police search of a property in the Strabane area on 13 February 2019. Officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Organised Crime Unit believed Brown was living there. During the search, they recovered concealed cash, several mobile phones and data storage devices. Brown had been claiming benefits for an apartment in the town, but subsequent inquiries found he was not entitled to the payments. Examination of his bank accounts revealed thousands of pounds moving in and out each month.

Detective Inspector Crothers said the case showed the PSNI's determination to investigate benefit fraud and bring offenders before the courts.