Ballymena man convicted of benefit fraud

A man was convicted at Ballymena Magistrates' Court yesterday for claiming benefits he was not entitled to.

He was given a 12 month conditional discharge for failure to declare employment while claiming Job Seekers Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £2,046.

He is also required to repay the money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

This brings to 276 the total number of successful prosecutions this year.