NI: Benefit fraudster jailed for nine months

A benefit fraudster was jailed for nine months today and ordered to hand over more than £120,000 (€178,000)under a confiscation order.

James McGregor, 54, of Inver Avenue, Belfast, had the sentence imposed at Belfast Crown Court for fraudulently claiming Income Support over an 11-year period.

McGregor falsely claimed £81,847 between 1993 and 2004, the court was told.

When he is released from jail at the end of his sentence he will have to serve a year on probation.

The court also imposed a confiscation order for £122,687 under the Proceeds of Crime legislation – representing the total financial advantage that was obtained from the fraud.

The money has to be paid back to the Social Security Agency within six months under the confiscation order.

The Department of Social Development said the case against Mr McGregor was the 167th successful prosecution for benefit fraud taken by the Social Security Agency so far this year.