Pensioner benefit cheat told to pay money back

A pensioner who cheated Hammersmith & Fulham Council out of nearly £8,500 has to pay the money back after pleading guilty to benefit fraud offences at West London Magistrates Court.

George Gidella, 75, of Bronsart Road Fulham was also given a two year conditional discharge and told to pay an additional £200 in court costs for the offences that dated back to January 2001.

The case against Gidella was opened following a datamatch from the National Fraud Initiative Report 2005 which identified thousands of fraudsters from across the country.

Officers from H&F's Corporate Anti Fraud Service (CAFS) were then able to prove that Gidella had been in employment while claiming benefit under the pretence that he had been out of work.

When interviewed under caution, Gidella told CAFS officers that he had not declared the earnings from his job because the job had not been permanent, despite having worked regularly for the employer for over six years by the time of the interview.

In total, Gidella defrauded the Council out of £6,442.96 in housing benefit and £1,993.37 in council tax benefit.

Councillor Greg Smith, Cabinet Member for Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour, said: "The Council will continue to track down those who commit benefit fraud and bring them to justice.

"It doesn't matter what a cheat's age is - fraud is fraud and it is not acceptable. The majority of borough residents are law-abiding citizens and we will continue to act in their best interests by bringing cheats to justice."