A benefit cheat psychologist who faked his death in Moscow, where his wife financed a boob job with proceeds from the scam, was jailed for two years and eight months today after fleeing to Thailand under a bogus identity.
Father-of-two Stephen Kellaway, 54, (pic.l.) pocketed £43,662 in a "cynical and selfish" housing benefit fraud despite building up a £1m portfolio of five properties with his Russian wife Nelli, 42.
He obtained a Republic of Ireland passport in the name of a dead seven year-old boy and ended up in Bangkok while Nelli (pic.r.) was prosecuted for the fraud and received a suspended sentence.
The couple travelled to the Russian capital in 2008, leaving behind the family home in Ashburnham Road, Richmond, and after receiving breast enlargement surgery Nelli presented a death certificate to the British Embassy.
It claimed her husband had died at Paveletsky Railway Station, Moscow on October 7, 2008.
At the time Hammersmith and Fulham Council were investigating the couple and had once successfully prosecuted Kellaway for claiming £5,523 housing benefit on a home he owned in Coningham Road, Shepherds Bush and failing to declare ownership of another four properties.
Nelli claimed her husband's ashes were in an urn she returned to the UK with, but it is believed they were the remains of a Moscow tramp.
Two years later Kellaway was exposed in Bangkok with a new Thai bride, but had visited his elderly parents in Southwick, Brighton three times while 'dead' using the new identity.
He has also stayed in touch with privately-educated children Stephanie, 11, and Maximilian, 9, and financed his new life with income from his £100,000 a year rentals.
However, after being mugged and losing his passport Kellaway ended up sleeping in Bangkok Airport and trying to stay one step ahead of the local authorities after overstating his tourist visa.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of making unlawful money transfers by deception and using a false identity document, namely the passport.
Judge Shani Barnes told Kellaway at Croydon Crown Court: "A cynical and selfish plan came between you and you struck at the very heart of the benefit system.
"There are thousands of people in need and people like you steal from them and from taxpayers, which undermines and demolishes that system.
"These were well thought out and professional offences and were persistent and intelligent."
Proceedings will follow under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
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