main content Four benefit fraudsters convicted

Three benefits fraudsters pleaded guilty at Bromley Magistrates Crown Court, and a fourth at Woolwich Crown Court, bringing the total prosecuted to 36 since the inception of Bromley Council's partnership with Greenwich Council in April 2002.

Council Leader Stephen Carr said "We will continue to prosecute benefit cheats in line with our anti fraud and corruption policy. Fraud will not be tolerated."

Angela Price, 35, from Castlecombe Road, Mottingham admitted defrauding benefits totalling £20,000 over a four year period from both Bromley Council and the Department of Works and Pensions. Price was sentenced to nine months imprisonment at Woolwich Crown Court. The judge took in to consideration the large sum of money and the period of the deception.

Mary Koku, 24, from Laurel Grove, Penge pleaded guilty to defrauding benefits totalling £2,500 and received a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £348 costs.

Charles Fasan, 33, and Abigail Wallis, 20, from St John's Road, Penge, pleaded guilty to defrauding benefits totalling £2,500. Fasan also pleaded guilty to defrauding Greenwich Council of benefits. Fasan was sentenced to a 240 hour community punishment (CPO) and ordered to pay £955 costs whilst Wallis was sentenced to a 160 CPO and ordered to pay £500 costs.

All three are being pursued for repayment of the benefits over claimed.

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 bring to 36 the number of prosecutions for the period to early June 2005. We have also been able to claim back over £205,000 in reward money for prosecutions, cautions, summonses and administrative penalties over three years.