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Man (24) posed as his brother to steal welfare payments nabbed by facial ID system

The court heard the full amount taken was €2,149.30.

Sligo Champion

Today at 06:49

A 24 year old man who pretended to be his brother to steal Job Seekers Allowance payments from the Department of Social Protection was told to come back with the full amount by Judge Éiteáin Cunningham at Sligo District Court.

Richard Sharples of Doonbeakin Road, Dromore West, Co Sligo was charged with stealing Job Seekers Allowance payments in the name of Thomas Sharples from the Post Office, Main St, Dromore West on dates including February 21st 2022, March 8th 2022 and March 28th 2022.

The investigation began when the department’s facial recognition system identified both persons to be the same through their photograph IDs.

The court heard the full amount taken was €2,149.30.

Detective Garda Greg Regan from the Department of Social Protection outlined how the investigation came to light due to their facial recognition system which identified photo IDs of two identities, Richard and Thomas Sharples who were later discovered to be the same person.

He said a person reporting to be Thomas Sharples attended the Social Welfare office in Cranmore and was allocated a PPSN number.

On May 9th 2022 a person reported to be Richard Sharples attended the same office and was also given a PPSN number and a photograph ID was taken.

On July 3rd 2023 the person reported to be Thomas Sharples called to the Ballina office and as a facial recognition identification had not been taken previously, this was taken and matched with the person whose photograph was taken on May 9th 2022, the defendant’s.

Dt Gda Regan said he made enquiries with local gardaí who had never heard of Thomas Sharples with that date of birth at that address.

There was no record of Thomas Sharples entering Ireland.

The court heard the defendant was in receipt of disability allowance payments from Scotland. Dt Gda Regan said department staff were satisfied both were the same person.

A search of the defendant’s home found a Public Services card in Thomas Sharples name. Richard Sharples was arrested and brought to Sligo Garda Station. He apologised for his actions and said he would reimburse the money.

Judge Cunningham enquired had it been done and the detective said no but he believed some money was in court.

Ms Kathleen Henry BL for Sharples, said he did co-operate fully and has health issues including autism, ADHD and Asperger’s.

He is 24 years old and has a lot of health issues. He was not able to find employment as he gets bullied.

She said he undertook to do this which was not the wisest.

She said he acts like a six year old and lives with his mother who supports him and was present in court with him. He had €1,000 in court and he apologised. She was asking the court to be as lenient as possible.

Judge Cunningham said it was a very serious matter in that there were steps taken by him to defraud the system. She asked is there a person called Thomas Sharples and the court heard it was his brother.

The judge said that for a number of years, the defendant made visits to different offices and only as a result of the facial recognition system was the offence detected.

Judge Cunningham said there was a sum of €1,409 outstanding on the amounts due to be repaid.

Ms Henry said that Sharples said he will repay the full amount given time.

The judge said due to the nature of the offence, it would be appropriate to order a Probation Welfare Report.

Judge Cunningham asked Detective Garda Regan about the €1,000 that was in court.

Dt Gda Regan said he can issue a receipt from the department that the sum has been taken away from the amount.

Judge Cunningham said she was going to put the matter back for a Probation Welfare Report.

She adjourned to the 25th of April for the case to be finalised.

Dt Gda Regan requested that the court made a destruction order for the documents in Thomas Sharples’ name, which was granted.