main content Benefit fraudsters prosecuted

Two benefit fraudsters were recently sentenced at Bromley Magistrates Court bringing the total prosecuted to 94 since the inception of Bromley Council’s partnership with Greenwich Council in April 2002.

The partnership has also achieved the 2006/07 sanctions target of 82 covering cases prosecuted, formal cautions and administrative penalties which is the number deemed necessary to be considered an excellent service.

Council Leader Stephen Carr said “I commend the success of the partnership in achieving this key target which proves that our fraud detection and investigation is working extremely well as evidenced by these latest prosecutions. Our message is that any fraud committed against this borough will be vigorously pursued.”

Dawn Black, 43, a resident of this borough pleaded guilty to defrauding Bromley Council of housing benefits totalling over £13,000 for a period March 2004 to February 2006. She was sentenced at Bromley Magistrates Crown Court on the 2nd March 2007 for falsely claiming benefits on a property that she owned. She was sentenced to a 100 hour community punishment order. She was also required to pay a compensation order for £5,000 and had £450 costs awarded to Bromley Council.
Ian O’Mahoney 39, of Southover, Bromley, pleaded guilty to defrauding Bromley Council of housing benefits totalling £1,200 over a three month period to May 2006. He failed to declare that his job seekers allowance had ceased. He was sentenced on the 2nd March 2007 to a 18 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £150 costs.

The Council is in the process of recovering the benefit overpayments in both cases.

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. 

This prosecution brings to 94 the number of prosecutions for the period April 2002 to early March 2007.