A workers’ compensation claimant has been convicted after making false statements to the NSW scheme and working while collecting weekly benefits.

Christopher Halligan was sentenced to an 18-month community correction order and must pay $19,635 to the workers’ compensation insurance fund following a State Insurance Regulatory Authority probe.

Queanbeyan Local Court found Halligan submitted five certificates of capacity containing false or incomplete employment declarations, resulting in payments worth several thousand dollars to which he was not entitled. He also submitted 24 pharmacy invoices for prescription medication expenses that were found to be fraudulent.

Judge Razia Shafiq found the offending was “objectively serious”, and while she accepted that Halligan had shown remorse, she said the sentence recognised harm done to the community.

Halligan was convicted of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception and must also pay $3000 costs.