29th
Nov 2015
A Brent mother was convicted for falsely claiming housing benefit of £40,000 and has received a prison sentence of 18 months.
The woman claimed that her landlord was a Mr Jawad, whereas in reality he was her children’s’ father and tricked the council of £40,000 by claiming rental payments on two different properties. Her career of crime spanned 2006-2010.
She also failed to disclose that she had a joint bank account with her supposed landlord, and falsely stated that she had two separate accounts solely in her name.
Harrow Crown Court was told that she given the council false tenancy agreements and benefit forms stating that the name of her landlord as ‘Modeef Limited’. The council finally investigated the company and found that it had never traded, was dormant and could not be found at the address given.
Modeef Ltd had never owned either of the two properties and no assets could be found.
The benefit’s cheat was found guilty of housing benefit fraud and was jailed for 18 months.
She was also ordered to pay back the money in full.
Brent Council’s cabinet member responsible for welfare, Councillor Roxanne Mashari, said: “In a time of budget cuts, when we are all desperately trying to make our money go further, it is disgraceful that someone would deliberately scam us out of over £40,000.”
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