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Benefit fraudster jailed
A benefit fraudster was recently jailed at Croydon Crown Court bringing the total prosecuted to 145 since the inception of Bromley Council’s partnership with Greenwich Council in April 2002.
A council spokesperson said “We hope that this sentence will act as a deterrent effect on those who try to defraud this authority and welcome the fact that we also work with other agencies to pursue fraudsters.”
Laura Gois, 43, of Croydon Road, Beckenham pleaded guilty to defrauding Bromley Council of housing and council tax benefits totalling £17,949 and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) of £5,813 in income support over a period August 2002 to February 2006. Gois had failed to notify both Bromley Council and the DWP that her husband was living with her, that they had both been working and that she owned a property in Portugal. On the 4th April she was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment. An application for a compensation order for the full overpayment of £23,763 is due to be heard on the 28th July 2008.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Anyone with 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.
- For media enquiries, please contact Luis Remedios, Audit Manager, on 020 8313 4886 or email luis.remedios@bromley.gov.uk