Council issues warning to benefits cheats » Communities » 24dash.com

Newham Council has warned benefit cheats that it will use all the powers at its disposal to flush out those who are fraudulently obtaining money.

The warning follows a successful prosecution in August where a 56-year-old man received a suspended jail sentence for dishonestly obtaining nearly £14,500 in benefits.

Ernest Stanley, of Plaistow Park Road, Plaistow, began receiving Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit in 1993 after telling the council his only income was Incapacity Benefit.

However he was caught out by one of the council's proactive exercises to uncover fraud within the borough.

Officers checked his Housing Benefit claim with Government records as part of a computer data matching exercise. It revealed he was receiving an occupational pension from Transport for London which, had he told the council about, would have invalidated his claim for benefits.

Stanley admitted six charges of false representation contrary to the Social Security Administration Act 1992 when he appeared before Stratford Magistrates Court. He was sentenced to a total of eight weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to pay £350 towards the council's legal costs. The amount of benefits he received will also have to be repaid.

Councillor Andrew Baikie, Cabinet member for housing and public protection, said: "We will continue to conduct data checks with other Government agencies and departments in order to uncover fraud in the borough.

"These investigations continue to have a positive contribution to ensuring both the prevention and detection of fraud. People should be warned if they are not reporting the same information to all relevant organisations they will be found out and could end up with a criminal record."

People wishing to report Housing Benefit or Council Tax fraud can ring the council's freephone hotline on 0800 052 2420 in confidence. It is staffed by a trained investigator during office hours and via answerphone out-of-hours.