11/05/2007
A Dagenham man who accused Council benefit investigators of being 'unprofessional' and in need of 'managerial guidance' has been found guilty this week of benefit fraud.
Andrew Brace, of 44 Millard Terrace, Dagenham, wrote to the Council officers who were investigating his suspicious benefit claims, describing them as 'unprofessional' and their department as 'inadequate'.
Brace first came to the attention of Barking and Dagenham Council's fraud investigation team after a computer check revealed that he had found employment and was therefore no longer claiming job seeker's allowance.
Officers were concerned because Brace was still claiming housing benefit on the basis that he was not in full time employment.
An investigation revealed that he had taken a job as a store manager with Brasher Leisure Ltd on 17 April 2006, but had failed to let the Council know, a serious offence under the Social Security Administration Act.
It was when the Council wrote to Brace, inviting him to attend a cautioned interview to explain his actions that the prosecuting officers received the letter suggesting they needed 'management training' and accusing them of being 'sinister and threatening'.
Based on the evidence, and Brace's repeated denial of the offence, officers decided to pursue a criminal prosecution and the case was heard at Barking Magistrates Court on Friday, 27 April 2007.
After hearing in mitigation that Brace had undergone a problematic divorce and taking into account his guilty plea, magistrates ordered him to pay a fine of £800 and costs of £400.
Cllr Mick McCarthy, Executive Member for Benefits, said: "I am astonished that someone who knowingly committed a serious offence would be so audacious as to accuse Council officials of incompetence.
"I think the successful conviction here shows that our officers are far from 'unprofessional', but rather extremely capable of bringing people who to try to cheat the system to justice."
ENDS
Monday 28 December 2009
Monday 21 December 2009
Slough's hidden population in shanty town homes1
Slough's hidden population in shanty town homes
1:48pm Fri 11th Dec 09:: written by Terry Pattinson
A hidden population of at least 2,000 people are living in about 1,000 dangerous 'garden sheds' across Slough, it was officially confirmed this week.
Council bosses have started cracking down on the greedy landlords who rent out sheds for at least £150 a week to mystery tenants.
The guilty landlords face fines of up to £20,000 and could face other criminal charges relating to health and safety, benefit fraud, income tax and council tax evasion.
The extent of the problem, growing steadily for about eight years, was revealed by council housing standards manager Keith Ford this week.
The worst four wards with inhabited sheds are Chalvey, Baylis, Central and Upton.
The 'sheds' - not all of them wooden shacks - feature in a series of aerial Google Earth photographs released by the council.
It shows one road - Wellesley Road in the town centre - with a shanty hut in almost every rear garden.The makeshift homes are fitted out with kitchen sinks, bathrooms, toilets and electricity, as well as satellite television, but the occupants are not registered for health or education.
Landlords wanting advice should call Mr Ford on 01753 875263 while anybody wanting to report illegal shed accommodation should call 01753 875570.
1:48pm Fri 11th Dec 09:: written by Terry Pattinson
A hidden population of at least 2,000 people are living in about 1,000 dangerous 'garden sheds' across Slough, it was officially confirmed this week.
Council bosses have started cracking down on the greedy landlords who rent out sheds for at least £150 a week to mystery tenants.
The guilty landlords face fines of up to £20,000 and could face other criminal charges relating to health and safety, benefit fraud, income tax and council tax evasion.
The extent of the problem, growing steadily for about eight years, was revealed by council housing standards manager Keith Ford this week.
The worst four wards with inhabited sheds are Chalvey, Baylis, Central and Upton.
The 'sheds' - not all of them wooden shacks - feature in a series of aerial Google Earth photographs released by the council.
It shows one road - Wellesley Road in the town centre - with a shanty hut in almost every rear garden.The makeshift homes are fitted out with kitchen sinks, bathrooms, toilets and electricity, as well as satellite television, but the occupants are not registered for health or education.
Landlords wanting advice should call Mr Ford on 01753 875263 while anybody wanting to report illegal shed accommodation should call 01753 875570.
Thursday 17 December 2009
A HAPLESS pair of fraudsters
15/12/2009
A HAPLESS pair of fraudsters who were paid to take more than 40 driving tests across the country, including in Oldham and Failsworth, have been jailed. Between them, Ali Abdullah (28), of City Road, Hulme, and Muqtar Nuren (22), of Staycott Street, Moss Side, took 27 practical tests and 16 theory tests for 35 different candidates on a “no pass, no fee” basis. The pair only managed to pass seven practical and three theory tests between them between October, 2006, and July, 2008. The scam targeted theory test centres in Salford, Runcorn, Preston, Stockport, St Helens and Ilford in east London, as well as practical test centres in Oldham, Failsworth, Sale, Bury, Cheetham Hill, Huddersfield and Redditch in Worcestershire. Suspicions were raised because they looked nothing like the people pictured on the provisional licences they were using, and an investigation was launched by the Driving Standards Agency. The pair were arrested in July last year after being linked to the cheat tests by CCTV. Both were found to have two licences each and it is believed they were part of a ring of crooks. They pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud in October this year. At Manchester Crown Court yesterday, Abdullah was sentenced to three years in jail, and Nuren for a year, for conspiracy to defraud the DSA. Speaking of the “spectacularly unsophisticated” fraud Joe Boyd, representing Abdullah, said the success rate was abysmal. He added: “It was an enormous amount of effort for very little reward, the benefit is minuscule.” Benjamin Myers, for Nuren, said: “Staff at the centres appeared to be aware of what was happening. There were a number of times when Nuren was challenged.” The DSA will now seek to revoke all licences obtained by illegal means. Speaking after the sentencing, Michelle Moston, deputy head of DSA’s fraud and integrity team, said: “People like Abdullah and Nuren present a real risk to all road users as they provide an entitlement to drive to those who have not been assessed to show that they are competent to do so.”
A HAPLESS pair of fraudsters who were paid to take more than 40 driving tests across the country, including in Oldham and Failsworth, have been jailed. Between them, Ali Abdullah (28), of City Road, Hulme, and Muqtar Nuren (22), of Staycott Street, Moss Side, took 27 practical tests and 16 theory tests for 35 different candidates on a “no pass, no fee” basis. The pair only managed to pass seven practical and three theory tests between them between October, 2006, and July, 2008. The scam targeted theory test centres in Salford, Runcorn, Preston, Stockport, St Helens and Ilford in east London, as well as practical test centres in Oldham, Failsworth, Sale, Bury, Cheetham Hill, Huddersfield and Redditch in Worcestershire. Suspicions were raised because they looked nothing like the people pictured on the provisional licences they were using, and an investigation was launched by the Driving Standards Agency. The pair were arrested in July last year after being linked to the cheat tests by CCTV. Both were found to have two licences each and it is believed they were part of a ring of crooks. They pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud in October this year. At Manchester Crown Court yesterday, Abdullah was sentenced to three years in jail, and Nuren for a year, for conspiracy to defraud the DSA. Speaking of the “spectacularly unsophisticated” fraud Joe Boyd, representing Abdullah, said the success rate was abysmal. He added: “It was an enormous amount of effort for very little reward, the benefit is minuscule.” Benjamin Myers, for Nuren, said: “Staff at the centres appeared to be aware of what was happening. There were a number of times when Nuren was challenged.” The DSA will now seek to revoke all licences obtained by illegal means. Speaking after the sentencing, Michelle Moston, deputy head of DSA’s fraud and integrity team, said: “People like Abdullah and Nuren present a real risk to all road users as they provide an entitlement to drive to those who have not been assessed to show that they are competent to do so.”
Tuesday 8 December 2009
Soccer hooligan begs not to be jailed
Soccer hooligan begs not to be jailed as he would miss his 'little dog who is like a son'
Published Date: 28 October 2009
A SOCCER hooligan who breached his Football Banning Order for the third time when he went to a match at Blackpool pleaded not to be sent to prison because he would miss his little dog.
Michael Lewis was put on the order after drunkenly invading the pitch during a match at Burnley Football Club's home ground where he assaulted two police officers.Lewis, a jobless 47-year-old grandfather, of the Station Hotel, Earby, admitted failing to comply with a Football Banning Order. He was sentenced to eight weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work for the community, put on a year's supervision and told to pay £85 costs by Blackpool magistrates.Prosecutor Mr John Beggs said, in 2005, Lewis was made the subject of a 10-year Football Banning Order by Burnley magistrates after being convicted of invading the pitch at Turf Moor, behaving in a threatening manner and assaulting two police officers.One of the order's conditions prohibited him from attending football matches but on August 15th, Blackpool were playing at home at Bloomfield Road against Cardiff and Lewis was a spectactor.At 4-20 p.m., police saw Lewis, who appeared to be arguing with a steward. The steward told officers he believed Lewis had had too much to drink and had asked him to leave.When Lewis's details were checked he was found to be on a Football Banning Order. He had two previous convictions for breaching the order.Lewis told magistrates he had come to the resort with his dog for a four-day break. He met a man who invited him to go to the match.He bought a small bottle of wine at the game, which he put in his back pocket, but a steward saw the bottle and called the police.Lewis said: "I was not drunk, I was just a bit fresh. I thought my banning order was just for Burnley matches and international matches."I would not like to go to prison today. Years ago, I would not have bothered, but I now have a little dog, who is like a son to me, and I would miss him."Miss Leisa Splaine (defending) told magistrates: "He says he has supported Burnley from age three to four. They have been his team for life."He says he has tried to comply with the order. He did not go to Wembley last season for what he described as the biggest game of Burnley's history, where they got promotion. He says he thought the order only applied to Burnley and international matches."
Published Date: 28 October 2009
A SOCCER hooligan who breached his Football Banning Order for the third time when he went to a match at Blackpool pleaded not to be sent to prison because he would miss his little dog.
Michael Lewis was put on the order after drunkenly invading the pitch during a match at Burnley Football Club's home ground where he assaulted two police officers.Lewis, a jobless 47-year-old grandfather, of the Station Hotel, Earby, admitted failing to comply with a Football Banning Order. He was sentenced to eight weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work for the community, put on a year's supervision and told to pay £85 costs by Blackpool magistrates.Prosecutor Mr John Beggs said, in 2005, Lewis was made the subject of a 10-year Football Banning Order by Burnley magistrates after being convicted of invading the pitch at Turf Moor, behaving in a threatening manner and assaulting two police officers.One of the order's conditions prohibited him from attending football matches but on August 15th, Blackpool were playing at home at Bloomfield Road against Cardiff and Lewis was a spectactor.At 4-20 p.m., police saw Lewis, who appeared to be arguing with a steward. The steward told officers he believed Lewis had had too much to drink and had asked him to leave.When Lewis's details were checked he was found to be on a Football Banning Order. He had two previous convictions for breaching the order.Lewis told magistrates he had come to the resort with his dog for a four-day break. He met a man who invited him to go to the match.He bought a small bottle of wine at the game, which he put in his back pocket, but a steward saw the bottle and called the police.Lewis said: "I was not drunk, I was just a bit fresh. I thought my banning order was just for Burnley matches and international matches."I would not like to go to prison today. Years ago, I would not have bothered, but I now have a little dog, who is like a son to me, and I would miss him."Miss Leisa Splaine (defending) told magistrates: "He says he has supported Burnley from age three to four. They have been his team for life."He says he has tried to comply with the order. He did not go to Wembley last season for what he described as the biggest game of Burnley's history, where they got promotion. He says he thought the order only applied to Burnley and international matches."
Wednesday 2 December 2009
British workers are swindling bosses out of £1bn a year in spurious expense claims.
British workers are swindling bosses out of £1bn a year in spurious expense claims.
New research reveals cheeky British workers are swindling their bosses by over a £1bn a year on spurious expense claims, including plastic surgery, a new car, a diamond engagement ring, escorts, council tax, a honeymoon, Viagra and even a goat.
Findings also revealed workers are embezzling their employer’s money to add a touch of glamour to their homes in the name of work. Respondents admitted buying furniture, home entertainment, refurbishing their homes with a new bathroom, kitchen, gym and wallpaper and paint to spruce up their homes.
Listed below are some of the other outrageous claims highlighted in the Travelodge research:
· New motorbike
· Private number plate for a BMW
· Hiring a private investigator to find evidence to start divorce proceedings
· Pet hamster called Barry for the office
· Lapdancers
· £1,000 hair extensions
· A new garden shed which was converted into an office
· Charity donations
· Luxury holidays to Africa, USA and Europe
· Dancing lessons
The budget chain survey of 3,000 British employees identified the typical worker pockets an extra £17 each month that they claim. This means claimants make an extra £204 a year through dodgy expense claims, totalling a whopping £9,078 over a working lifetime.
Further findings identified a smug 43% of British workers believe swindling expense claims is a legitimate way of making extra cash and 45% of people said all their colleagues are ‘doing it’. An astonishing 84% of those polled said they didn’t feel guilty about inventing claims.
More men (22%) have used their expense account to wine and dine the opposite sex at prestigious restaurants in contrast to just 9% of women.
New research reveals cheeky British workers are swindling their bosses by over a £1bn a year on spurious expense claims, including plastic surgery, a new car, a diamond engagement ring, escorts, council tax, a honeymoon, Viagra and even a goat.
Findings also revealed workers are embezzling their employer’s money to add a touch of glamour to their homes in the name of work. Respondents admitted buying furniture, home entertainment, refurbishing their homes with a new bathroom, kitchen, gym and wallpaper and paint to spruce up their homes.
Listed below are some of the other outrageous claims highlighted in the Travelodge research:
· New motorbike
· Private number plate for a BMW
· Hiring a private investigator to find evidence to start divorce proceedings
· Pet hamster called Barry for the office
· Lapdancers
· £1,000 hair extensions
· A new garden shed which was converted into an office
· Charity donations
· Luxury holidays to Africa, USA and Europe
· Dancing lessons
The budget chain survey of 3,000 British employees identified the typical worker pockets an extra £17 each month that they claim. This means claimants make an extra £204 a year through dodgy expense claims, totalling a whopping £9,078 over a working lifetime.
Further findings identified a smug 43% of British workers believe swindling expense claims is a legitimate way of making extra cash and 45% of people said all their colleagues are ‘doing it’. An astonishing 84% of those polled said they didn’t feel guilty about inventing claims.
More men (22%) have used their expense account to wine and dine the opposite sex at prestigious restaurants in contrast to just 9% of women.
Tuesday 1 December 2009
Dad starts blaze trying to destroy documents
Dad starts blaze trying to destroy documents
12:55pm Monday 8th January 2007
By Christine Sexton »
A dad worried about identity fraud unwittingly set his home on fire as he tried to burn personal documents.
The man, his wife and their two young children fled the home in London Road, Benfleet, after he set fire to documents in a saucepan near a wooden garage attached to the house.
Firefighters were called to the semi-detached house shortly after 9pm on Thursday after the fire spread to the house through a window.
Hadleigh fire station sub officer Alan Hockett said his crews arrived to find the building well ablaze.
Although the family had already got out of the building, their cat was trapped inside and had to be rescued by fire officers, who also managed to prevent the fire spreading to the roof.
Fire investigator Martin Pullen said: "The husband bravely attempted to tackle the fire with a garden hose, but it was too developed.
"He did what the fire service advise - he alerted the family and they got out safely.
"He was destroying old receipts by burning them in a saucepan. He was concerned about fraud and, because they had not got a shredder, they had a habit of burning them."
12:55pm Monday 8th January 2007
By Christine Sexton »
A dad worried about identity fraud unwittingly set his home on fire as he tried to burn personal documents.
The man, his wife and their two young children fled the home in London Road, Benfleet, after he set fire to documents in a saucepan near a wooden garage attached to the house.
Firefighters were called to the semi-detached house shortly after 9pm on Thursday after the fire spread to the house through a window.
Hadleigh fire station sub officer Alan Hockett said his crews arrived to find the building well ablaze.
Although the family had already got out of the building, their cat was trapped inside and had to be rescued by fire officers, who also managed to prevent the fire spreading to the roof.
Fire investigator Martin Pullen said: "The husband bravely attempted to tackle the fire with a garden hose, but it was too developed.
"He did what the fire service advise - he alerted the family and they got out safely.
"He was destroying old receipts by burning them in a saucepan. He was concerned about fraud and, because they had not got a shredder, they had a habit of burning them."
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