A benefits cheat who claimed over £37,000 in disability and other payments while employed in a physically-demanding hospital cleaning job has been jailed for twelve months.
Bangladesh-born Shiree Begum, 61, of Cornwallis Square, Upper Holloway also received income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit payments while putting in a thirty-seven hour week at St. Bartholomew’s, Smithfields (pictured).
Begum, who fled to her homeland after she was initially quizzed by investigators, was arrested on her return to the UK and is currently in receipt of disability living allowance.
Her initial disability claim for an arthritic knee in 1997 was legitimate, but on November 11, 2002 she began working under an alias and her tasks included hovering, mopping, emptying rubbish bins and lifting.
While employed full-time she obtained £14,714 in disability benefit; £6,915 income support; £10,316 in housing benefit and £5,442 in council tax benefit.
Begum pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to four charges of failing to notify a change of circumstances to the Department of work and Pensions and the London Borough of Islington.
The first-time offender, who produced a forty-one page medical history to the court, quit working in September, 2005 due to illness.
Her 87 year-old husband has his own health issues, suffering heart problems and currently recovering from tumor surgery.
Recorder Constance Briscoe told the visibly shaken defendant: “You failed to disclose that you were capable of carrying out a decent week’s work even though you were lifting, walking, cleaning despite the disability you claimed.
“This offence is so serious only a custodial sentence can be passed.”
No comments:
Post a Comment