Chafford Resident benefit fraud trickster punished

A Chafford Hundred man was sentenced to four months in prison for benefit fraud by Magistrates in Grays on Thursday, (1 October).

Mr X of San Marcos Drive, had previously admitted six charges of fraud in relation to claims for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit which had netted him over £6,000 in a 13-month period when he appeared before Basildon Magistrate Court.

He had changed his name a few times by deed poll and claimed to be his fictitious landlord on a property that he owned and produced fraudulent claim forms and tenancy agreements.

He had also twice submitted false tenancy forms indicating that his rental liability had increased in an attempt to obtain additional benefit.