Repeat welfare fraudster sent to jail

A repeat social welfare fraudster who was caught after his picture was run through facial recognition software by Department of Social Protection investigators has been sentenced to three years in jail, with the final two years suspended.

James Maughan, aged 38, was already claiming disability benefit in his own name when he made a claim for Jobseeker’s Allowance in a false name. After his picture was taken for his public services card, suspicious staff ran the image through facial recognition software and discovered his true identity.

He has 55 previous convictions, including the 11 social welfare convictions.