Housing benefit fraudster pleads guilty

Reporter: Ask Bury
Date online: 04 September 2006

Faranza Jabeen, 34, of 174 Heywood Street, Manchester appeared before the Bury Magistrates' Court on August 30 and pleaded guilty to dishonestly falsifying documents to obtain housing benefit. The loss to public funds was pound;6,225.50.

Jabeen had claimed that she was renting her home at 9 West Meade, Prestwich, when in fact her home was owned by her husband, something she failed to mention in her applications for housing benefit.

She was made subject to a community order for twelve months and must perform 180 hours of unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay pound;250.00 towards the costs of investigating and prosecuting her behaviour.

Her solicitor told the court that Ms Jabeen was aware that there are civil proceedings in place to recover the money as she had received communications from bailiffs.

Councillor Tony Isherwood Executive Member for Strong, Safe and Confident Communities said: ldquo;Time and again people try to defraud the system only to get caught and face the penalties. It is not a pleasant experience and people should be warned that there are consequences for trying to cheat the system.”