Nameless housing benefit fraudster jailed

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Legal

A Ruislip man who used a fraudulently obtained passport to scam over £14,000 in benefits has been jailed.

The crook, whose real name is unknown, used a UK Passport in the name of Brinsley Richard Holman to falsely claim £12,698.76 in housing benefit and £1,835.32 in council tax allowance between April 2011 and June 2012.

The thief, who is believed to be Nigerian, was given a 15-month sentence on January 16 following a trial at Isleworth Crown Court.

The conviction followed a joint investigation by Hillingdon Council, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Identity and Passport Service, the UK Border Agency and the Met Police.

'Mr Holman', of Rodwell Close, Ruislip, will be extradited to Poland after he has finished his prison term to serve a sentence for forgery committed in that country.

Garry Coote, manager of Hillingdon Council's Corporate Fraud Team, said: "Cases like these send a clear message. We work in partnership with Law Enforcement Agencies and will take action against anyone defrauding the council. There won’t be any let up against identity fraud committed against us."