Wigan man admits £4,500 benefits con

Joshua Kirk, 26, of North Street, Ashton-in-Makerfield, appeared in the dock before Wigan and Leigh magistrates to admit dishonestly failing to ensure that three payments of £1,525.44 credited to him in June, July and November of 2019 were not cancelled, knowing that he was not entitled to the cash.

The money has been recovered and the bench ordered that he must complete 150 hours’ unpaid work over the next 12 months and has to pay a victim services surcharge and court costs totalling £170.

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