Damian Matthew Sinclair received more than $25k in fraudulent Newstart payments

A dyslexic, former problem punter has been busted after filing a slew of false Centrelink reports, worth tens of thousands of dollars.

A former problem gambler who received more than $24,000 in fraudulent Newstart payments after making 60 false reports to Centrelink was “not good mathematically”, a court has heard.

Damian Matthew Sinclair, 40, of Moonta, appeared in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Thursday afternoon charged with obtaining financial advantage for himself from another person.

He pleaded guilty at a January hearing earlier this year.

The court heard between December 22, 2016 and April 26, 2019, Sinclair received $24, 925.92 by making false income declarations to the Commonwealth.

He made 21 declarations of nil income and 39 “under declarations” of income, before he self-reported to Centrelink in Kadina after telling his employment services provider he was working 40 hours a week.

The court heard at one stage he was working variable hours at a Moonta service station from 2016 but he was now “embarrassed” by his offending.

Damian Matthew Sinclair self-reported to Centrelink in Kadina. Picture: Google Maps.

Sinclair has paid back $1758.29 so far.

Magistrate Briony Kennewell said Sinclair was dyslexic and was “not good mathematically”, had a gambling problem but was seeking help for the issue.

However, she said he was a good candidate for rehabilitation.

“I accept that you are a person of prior good character,” Ms Kennewell said.

“But in a matter like this, where the offending has been committed over a long period, it cannot have much significance.

“Your offending was sustained and deliberate offending against the social security system.

“(It) needs to be protected so that those in the community in financial need can be supported.”

He received a suspended two-month and three-day prison term, a conviction, was placed on a $500, 18-month good behaviour bond and has to pay total costs of $291.