A MAN who kept more than £5,000 that was wrongfully sent to him has been sentenced in court.

Ryan Tarbuck, of Haydock Street, Newton-le-Willows, appeared before Liverpool, Knowsley and St Helens Magistrates’ Court on Friday, January 19.

Tarbuck, 29, had pleaded guilty to nine counts of retaining wrongful credit, contrary to the Theft Act, between July 2019 and March 2021, at an earlier hearing on December 15 last year. 

He admitted to knowing or believing a wrongful credit of £1,525.44 had been made to an account kept by him on July 2, 2019, and failed to take such steps that it was cancelled.

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Tarbuck also pleaded guilty to a count in relation to a credit of £800 on August 12 that year, and of £425 and £300 on August 19.

He also admitted guilt over credits of £825 and £317.82 on March 31, 2020, and of £332 on April 2, 2020.

The 29-year-old also admitted to the offence over credits of £490 and £575 on March 10, 2021.

Tarbuck was given a community order and must comply with a drug rehabilitation requirement.

He must undertake rehabilitation activity for up to 15 days. and was ordered to carry out unpaid work for 100 hours within the next 12 months. 

The court also made him pay costs of £250 and a surcharge of £114, making a total of £364.