Thousands to be paid back by benefit cheat
Richard Cutcher • Published 11 Jan 2012 14:00
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A BENEFITS cheat who claimed more £27,000 in housing and council tax benefits has got off with a suspended jail sentence and community service.
Yahia Ghalib, 52, of Arthur Road, pleaded guilty to failing to notify a change of circumstances and was sentenced at Reading Magistrates' Court to ten weeks custody suspended for 24 months and 60 hours of unpaid community work on Monday.
Mr Ghalib will pay £3,000 in compensation and the balance of the overpayment back to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
Councillorr Richard Kellaway, cabinet member for finance, said: "This case flags up the success of Royal Borough teams working closely together to fight benefit fraud.
"We also invite members of the public to contact us if they suspect benefit fraud. I would strongly advise anyone who has received overpayments to contact us as soon as possible so that the issue can be resolved."
The offences occurred under Section 112 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992. Mr Ghalib received overpayments of £25,372.84 in housing benefit between February 2008 and November 2009 and £2,201.59 in council tax benefit during the same period.
To report a benefit fraud confidential call the free Beat the Cheat line on 0500 353 300.
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