A MAN who fell for a pop-up advert offering easy money ended up in court.

Blackburn magistrates heard Ryan Creighton provided his bank details to an unknown person who made fraudulent benefit claims on his behalf.

Nearly £3,500 was paid into his account but Creighton only retained a quarter of the money.

Creighton, 28, of Brambling Drive, Bacup, pleaded guilty to four charges of retaining a wrongful credit. He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 100 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

The court heard at the time of the offences in 2019 Creighton had been unemployed and had been tempted by the chance to make easy money. He had heard of other people who had benefited from the loophole in the system and got involved.

The court heard he was now ashamed to have placed himself in the situation.