main content Benefit fraudster convicted

A benefit fraudster pleaded guilty at Bromley Magistrates Crown Court, bringing the total prosecuted to 38 since the inception of Bromley Council’s partnership with Greenwich Council in April 2002.

Council Leader Stephen Carr said “Benefit cheats will be prosecuted in line with our anti fraud and corruption policy. Fraud will not be tolerated by this Authority.”

Joseph Woolford, 45, a landlord from Barmead Road, Beckenham, pleaded guilty to defrauding benefits totalling £1,374. He had continued to cash benefit cheques even though his tenant of a property based in Chalkenden Close, SE20 had left. Woolford was sentenced to a £600 fine and ordered to pay £427 costs.

The overpayment of benefits has been recovered.

ENDS

Notes to editors: 

• For media enquiries, please contact Luis Remedios on 020 8313 4886 or email luis.remedios@bromley.gov.uk. 
• Anyone with any information about a suspected benefit fraud should contact (in strict confidence) the Fraud Hotline on 0800 169 6975.
• Bromley Council works in partnership with Greenwich Council’s Corporate Anti-Fraud Team. 
• These prosecutions brings to 38 the number of prosecutions for the period to early July 2005. We have also been able to claim back over £226,000 in reward money for prosecutions, cautions, summonses and administrative penalties over three years.