Pirates of the Caribbean star convicted of benefit fraud

Ian Mercer at the premiere of the latest Pirates Of The Caribbean film at Disneyland, California earlier this month.

After a stroll down the red carpet with Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz at the premiere of Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Ian Mercer followed it up with a less dignified public appearance – magistrates’ court.

The 49-year-old actor was at Bedlington Magistrates’ Court, Northumberland after falsely claiming ?2,300 in council tax benefit.

The court heard that Mercer had failed to notify Northumberland County Council of a change in his circumstances after the breakdown of his marriage.

Mercer, from Sheepwash, Northumberland, played Gary Mallett in Coronation Street between 1995 and 2000.

And he has appeared in the TV series Shameless, Heartbeat, A Touch Of Frost, Peak Practice and Waking The Dead.

He also landed a role in the Hollywood blockbuster Master And Commander alongside Russell Crowe.

The actor had been living with his estranged wife and two daughters in a rented home in Pegswood, Northumberland.

But Mercer had claimed council tax benefit for 12 months prior to the breakdown of his marriage.

Anna Barker, prosecuting, said an anonymous allegation had been made that Mercer had been working but had failed to declare his earnings.

The court heard he had also failed to declare the ?200,000 sale of a property in Oldham, Lancashire in January 2009.

Mercer and his wife were both interviewed and it was established that Mrs Mercer was not to blame.

Mr Graham said his client thought that stopping his unemployment benefit claim meant other benefits he was getting would be stopped automatically.