Benefits fraudster went on £20k Amazon rampage AFTER she was caught conning taxpayers

A benefits fraudster went on a £20,000 Amazon shopping spree after she was caught conning taxpayers.

Patricia Caley, 54, spent £120,000 in inheritance money before she claimed benefits from the Isle of Man's Government.

But Caley, from Laxey, was still receiving an income from dog-walking which she had failed to declare to the Isle's Treasury.

Caley previously admitted to two counts of fraud after she received 172 overpayments totalling £49,632 and failed to declare a bank account.

The payments dated between 2020 and 2024.

She has now appeared in the Isle of Man's High Court of Justice for sentencing.

The court heard how she had paid £123,946 into her Halifax account from an inheritance in June 2020 but had since spent it.

She falsely declared that her circumstances had not changed on 172 occasions as she received payments to her MiCard - the system used on the island to claim benefits until the end of last year.

The Isle of Man MiCard allowed benefits recipients to pick up payments in cash, directly from the Post Office.

The Isle of Man's Treasury previously said withdrawal of the system would save £500,000 a year.

She also regularly received payments for dog walking of £95 a week.

In her initial interview with social security inspectors, she claimed she believed she could work up to 16 hours a week without affecting her income support.

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She did not, however, give a reason for failing to declare her bank account.

After the initial interview, Caley spent the remaining £20,000 on 500 Amazon purchases.

Deemster Graeme Cook questioned why a restraining order on Caley's purchases had not been put in place.

Advocate Paul Rogers argued his client had no previous convictions and a "complicated background".

He told the court Caley had a a history of anxiety and depression, and said much of the money was spent on alcohol.

Deemster Cook said Caley lived an "extravagant lifestyle", but not a lavish one.

He handed Caley a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for two years with supervision.

She was also ordered to repay £5,000 of the money she claimed.