Skip to main content
Department for Communities Department for Communities An Roinn Pobal Depairtment fur Commonities

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Topics
  • Publications
  • Consultations
  • Contact

Translation help

Translate this page

Select a language

  • Arabic — عربي
  • Chinese (Simplified) — 中文简体
  • Chinese (Traditional) — 中文繁體
  • Dutch — Nederlands
  • Filipino — Filipino
  • French — Français
  • German — Deutsch
  • Hungarian — Magyar
  • Irish — Gaeilge
  • Italian — Italiano
  • Latvian — Latviešu
  • Lithuanian — Lietuvių kalba
  • Polish — Polski
  • Portuguese — Português
  • Romanian — Română
  • Russian — Русский
  • Slovak — Slovenčina
  • Spanish — Español
  • Ukrainian — Українська
  • Suspended sentence for benefit fraud at Antrim Crown Court

    Topics:
    • Benefit fraud

    Date published: 21 May 2025

    One person was convicted at Antrim Crown Court today for claiming over £7,000 in benefits he was not entitled to.

    Jonathan Gibson (46) of Killane Manor, Ballymena, claimed Universal Credit totalling £7,336 whilst failing to declare employment. He was sentenced to five months imprisonment suspended for 18 months. The fraud was uncovered following an investigation by the Department for Communities.

    Mr Gibson is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Department.

    Suspected benefit fraud can be reported to the Department for Communities anonymously.  Find out more at nidirect.

    Notes to editors:

    1. For media enquiries please contact the Press Office via email            
    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.

    Latest news

    • Minister congratulates Northern Ireland’s Honour recipients

      13 June 2025

    • Ministerial Statement by Minister Gordon Lyons MLA - Update on Winter Fuel Payments

      10 June 2025

    • Northern Ireland Housing Executive Board Member Appointments

      10 June 2025

    • Communities Minister Lyons confirms Winter Fuel Payment for Northern Ireland

      10 June 2025

    More news …
    Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on X (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

    Department footer links

    • Crown copyright
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy
    • Cookies
    • Accessibility
    • The Northern Ireland Executive
    • The Executive Office
    • Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
    • Department for Communities
    • Department for Education
    • Department for the Economy
    • Department of Finance
    • Department for Infrastructure
    • Department for Health
    • Department of Justice
    • nidirect.gov.uk — the official government website for Northern Ireland citizens