A benefit fraudster was caught after taking his former employer to a tribunal, exposing his undeclared work while claiming benefits.
Jeremy James Rennison, 55, changed his plea to guilty on Tuesday for two counts of benefit fraud at a court hearing before Deputy High Bailiff Rachael Braidwood.
The case came to light after Rennison filed a tribunal claim against his former employer, Portofino restaurant in Douglas, Isle of Man.
The Department of Health and Social Care discovered he had been claiming income support since March 2023 while failing to declare employment at two local companies.
A benefit fraudster’s failed to declare two jobs he had held while claiming income support benefitGETTY
Rennison will be sentenced on January 28 following a probation report.
Rennison had worked at the quayside restaurant in Douglas from June to August last year, earning £10 per hour in cash payments.
During the tribunal, he claimed he hadn’t received payment for his final week of work, holiday pay, or notice pay when his employment ended.
The tribunal ruled in his favour in April this year, awarding him £1,826.50 in compensation.
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The case came to light after Rennison filed a tribunal claim against his former employer, Portofino restaurant in Douglas, Isle of Man
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However, Rennison was unable to collect the compensation as Portofino had gone into liquidation.
The restaurant ceased trading in December 2023, with owner Mario Ciappelli citing rising costs of ingredients, labour, and overheads, along with the “unpredictable nature of the hospitality business” as reasons for closure.
The restaurant owners revealed Rennison’s benefit fraud in an email to the tribunal, stating: “He wanted to work but he asked me to pay him cash so he could still get the Job Seekers money from the government.”
The email continued: “That’s why he didn’t work for us and now I think is trying to get us back.”
Media coverage of the tribunal hearing prompted a DHSC investigation.
The investigation uncovered that Rennison had failed to declare work at two local companies.
News reports about the tribunal in May 2024 alerted the Department of Health and Social Care to his undeclared workPAWhen interviewed by the department in June 2024, Rennison admitted that his benefits didn’t cover his living expenses, so he had been working.
During a pre-trial review scheduled for December 3, Rennison’s advocate David Reynolds revealed that interview transcripts showed his client had admitted the offences multiple times.
The court heard that while the initial benefits claim was not dishonest, Rennison had failed to inform the department when his circumstances changed after obtaining work.
Rennison, who lives at Mona Drive in Douglas, had previously denied the allegations in court before changing his pleas to guilty.
He has been granted bail of £500 with conditions to contact probation services and cooperate in preparing his pre-sentencing report.
The case will conclude when Rennison returns to court for sentencing on January 28 next year.
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