main content Benefit fraudster convicted

A benefit fraudster was found guilty at Bromley Magistrates Court and, sentenced on the 31st May 2006 bringing the total prosecuted to 66 since the inception of Bromley Council’s partnership with Greenwich Council in April 2002.

Council Leader Stephen Carr said “This prosecution is part of our continued policy to vigorously pursue fraudsters in accordance with the Council’s zero tolerance on fraud.”

Michelle King, 23, of Croydon Road, Penge was found guilty of defrauding Bromley Council of benefits totalling over £3,000. She was sentenced to a Curfew Order, a Compensation Order of £2,871 equivalent to the housing benefit overpayment and ordered to pay £500 costs to Bromley Council.

The Council is in the process of recovering the overpayment of council tax benefit in this case.

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 66 the number of prosecutions for the period to mid June 2006. We have also been able to claim back over £340,000 in reward money for prosecutions, cautions, summonses and administrative penalties over 49 months. Reward money has ceased from the 1st April 2006 and is replaced by an administrative subsidy.