Landlady Jailed For Benefit Fraud

A benefit fraudster, who continued claiming £100,000 in hand-outs after inheriting her father's house - which she rented to her boyfriend - was jailed today.

Mother-of-two Melissa Urquhart, 34, of Widden Road, Stratford claimed income support and housing and council tax benefit at a property in Croydon for eight years.

The first-time offender, who dropped-out of a psychology degree course, also pocketed rent from her boyfriend, who was also claiming housing benefit.

Croydon Crown Court (pictured) was told it was a “very sophisticated fraud” which ran from 2003 to 2011 after Urquhart inherited the £240,000 East London property after the tragic hit-and-run death of her father.

In February 2009 investigators saw the defendant's name on a land registry document and she was quizzed in December 2010.

Judge Nicholas Ainley told Urquhart: “You ceased to be entitled to claim because you inherited a property and continued to make significant claims for benefits over eight years.

“You were privately renting it out and not letting it go to waste.”

Urquhart was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment.