Man who defrauded two London councils jailed for 18 months » Local Government » 24dash.com

A man who defrauded two local authorities and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) out of almost £100,000 has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Josef Kolendowicz claimed the money from Hammersmith & Fulham Council, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the DWP under various false names and even fled from his home when he realised he had been caught.

The 57-year-old received his comeuppance following a joint operation between the two councils, police and the DWP.

Kolendowicz started claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit from H&F in August 2002 under the name of Andrew Alexander.

An investigation was opened three years later when it came to light that he was also claiming these benefits from K and C under his real name.

The investigation, led by H&F, uncovered that Kolendowicz used several other aliases and had large amounts of capital that had not been declared.

He was also the owner of a property that he sold, however the investigation found that he had actually sold it to himself but in a different name. Again, this property had not been declared.

In total, Kolendowicz fraudulently claimed £13,939 in housing benefit and £2,265 in council tax benefit from H&F, £24,706 in housing benefit and £3,040.68 in council tax benefit from Kensington and Chelsea and £48,945 from the DWP. This made a total of £93,000.

Councillor Greg Smith, H&F's Cabinet Member for Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour, said: "This is a particularly bad case of fraud and I hope that Kolendowicz has a hard think about his actions while he is sitting in his cell. Benefit fraud does not pay.

"We will continue to pursue those who think it is acceptable and will work with our partners to bring then to justice. The message is loud and clear. If you want to commit acts of fraud, be prepared to pay the consequences."

The fraudster failed to attend a number of interviews and was finally arrested by the Metropolitan Police Financial Intelligence Unit and charged with offences related to benefit fraud.

Subsequent to the efforts of the Police and the Council's corporate Anti Fraud Service, substantial assets were identified and restrained by the Police at the time of his arrest.