Benefit Cheat's Secret Property

A benefit fraudster, who claimed over £32,000 in Universal Credit while secretly owning another property he deliberately failed to declare, has admitted his crime.

Laikh Hussain, 41, of Ashburnham Road, Richmond-upon-Thames appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court this week.

He pleaded guilty to dishonestly making a false statement to obtain benefit on July 8, 2020, namely that he did not own any other property than the home in which he lived.

Prosecutor Ijaz Malik told the court the offence was between the 2020 date and January, 2024 when Hussain claimed he was unemployed and had no other means of support.

He claimed Universal Credit for himself and his wife, declaring he had no savings and owned no additional property either in the UK or abroad.

Hussain’s dishonesty, which was from the very beginning of his claim, resulted in a loss to the taxpayer of £32,379.66p.

“Had this been known if would have effected his entitlement ,” explained prosecutor Ijaz Malik.

Hussain was bailed to October 6 for a pre-sentence report after his defence lawyer mentioned “medical, financial and family problems,” and the recent passing away of a close relative.

The court heard Hussain is in the process of repaying the money he dishonestly received.