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  • Community service order given for benefit fraud

    Topics:
    • Law and legislation

    Date published: 2 December 2025

    A man was convicted at Laganside Magistrates’ Court for fraudulently claiming over £4,000 in benefits he was not entitled to.

    Steven Woods (49) of Blenheim Drive, Newtownards, claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £4,512 whilst failing to declare employment. He was given 150 hours’ community service. The fraud was uncovered following an investigation by the Department for Communities.

    All money fraudulently obtained by Mr Woods has been repaid to the Department in full.

    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 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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