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  • Community Service for benefit fraud at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court

    Topics:
    • Benefit fraud

    Date published: 18 June 2026

    A man has been convicted at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court for fraudulently claiming over £5,000 in benefits.

    Andrew Conner (40), of Drumsough Road, Randalstown, claimed Universal Credit totalling £5,975 whilst failing to declare income. He was sentenced to 150 hours’  community service. The fraud was uncovered following an investigation by the Department for Communities.  

    In addition, an installment order was granted by the Court requiring Mr Conner to repay the overpaid amount back to the Department, with failure to comply resulting in a potential custodial sentence of six months’ imprisonment.

    Suspected benefit fraud can be reported to the Department for Communities anonymously. Find out more at: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/benefit-fraud.

     

    Notes to editors:

    1. For media enquiries please contact the DfC Press Office via press.office@communities-ni.gov.uk.
    2. Follow the Department on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
    3. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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