Dual-identity benefit fraudster jailed for 18 months

A man who used two different identities to illegally claim over £85,000 in housing and income support benefits has been jailed for 18 months.

Mr Ahmed Sharif Mohamed, 36, claimed housing benefit for a property in Royal College Street, Camden, totalling £24,000.

He used another identity in the name of Mr Mohamed Sharif Ahmed to claim housing benefit at Brecknock Road, totalling over £41,000.

He also used these identities to claim £20,000 in Income Support to which he was not entitled.

Under a joint investigation between benefit investigators at Camden Council and the Department for Work and Pensions, he was arrested at a property in Islington.

When the police, Camden Council and DWP benefit investigation officers visited the Royal College Street property it was found to be sublet.

Mr Mohamed was arrested and charged with 19 counts of fraud.

He pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court to 18 months imprisonment. He has handed in the keys to the Royal College Street flat, a Council-owned property, and has been asked to pay back the money.

Councillor Ralph Scott, Camden Council's Executive Member for Resources, said: “This is an excellent example of Camden Benefit Investigators working to combat fraud.

"Camden Council takes its role on detecting and preventing fraud very seriously, and will not tolerate any abuse of the system.

"We are determined to take action against those who attempt to abuse the benefits system and we will prosecute where appropriate.”