Secret Student Sentenced For £47K Benefits Swindle

A young mother-of-five, who kept her lucrative student loans and grants secret, has dodged prison with a suspended sentence for a £47,000 benefit swindle.

Aziza Abouoff, 28, (pictured) of Lewis Road, Sidcup, south-east London had admitted the three-year fraud and was committed for sentencing to Inner London Crown Court.

She illegally obtained £42,988 in housing benefit and £4,678 in council tax benefit.

Abouoff, who is estranged from her husband, pleaded guilty to four counts of failing to notify a change of circumstances to the London Borough of Bexley on dates between September 23, 2007 and October 3, 2010.

She was sentenced to three months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months, ordered to perform 80 community service work and must pay an £80 victim surcharge.

The offences related to University of Greenwich loans amounting to £6,615 and £8,975 and grants amounting to £1,000 and £11,486.

Abouoff also received Greenwich School of Management loans of £8,975 and £7,088 and grants of £16,827 and £7,025.