A phone-y telesales agent with a penchant for long-haul travel and expensive Jimmy Choos, was jailed this week (Monday) for swindling thousands of pounds in falsely claimed benefits.
The fraudster, who bagged thousands of pounds from taxpayers whilst working under a false identity whilst claiming Housing and Council Tax Benefits, was jailed for 8 months at Inner London Crown Court, after a successful prosecution by Islington Council.
Former telesales Agent Ashley Singh, admitted one count of dishonestly making false statements on three housing/council tax benefit forms between July 2003 and December 2005, benefitting from an overpayment of £16,067.90.
The court heard how the 38 year old was working full-time at a phone company under the assumed name of Ashley Valerie Sinclair when, in July 2003, she moved into a luxury flat at Rowsley Lodge, Lady Margaret Road, N19 and began claiming benefits in her real name, and on the basis she was unemployed. She therefore received the full entitlement towards her Council Tax liability and £1,200 a month rent.
The scam came to light following an investigation by Islington Council's Benefit Investigation Team. They found that Singh had stated on applications for Credit Cards that she was employed by a phone company. Bank statements revealed salary for the false identity being credited to an account in her real name. Singh was arrested at her home and a search of the flat uncovered National Insurance Number cards in both identities, along with other documents in the false name.
She had been overpaid £13,810.58 in Housing Benefit and £3169.28 in Council Tax Benefit as a result of the deception.
In sentencing, Judge Van der Werff described Singh as a "thoroughly dishonest woman" who had "created a false identity with a false National Insurance Number and obtained employment in that identity".
He told Singh, "You made dishonest applications for benefits to which you were not entitled."
Making reference to items found in the flat at the time of her arrest, which included a Rolex watch, 37" high definition plasma television and several pairs of Jimmy Choo shoes, the Judge said, "When this came to light, through no assistance of yours, you were living a comfortable lifestyle. There is further evidence from the prosecution to support the contention that the money you obrained from Islington Council was used to pay for a good lifestyle."
In a further reference to stamps in Singh's Guyanese passport, the Judge observed that 13 visits had been made to the USA, Canada, Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago in a period of 2-3 years, during which time the fraud had been conducted. He added that this was "not the sort of case that the Court looks on with sympathy".
Singh, formerly of Lady Margaret Road, London, N19, was jailed for 8 months and will be required to repay the £16,067.90 that she had obtained by the deception.
Cllr Marisha Ray, executive member for community safety said: "This latest court success shows that dishonest people who try to cheat the system will not get away with it. We take the theft of taxpayers money extremely seriously, as it affects the services available to the law abiding majority. We will not tolerate this type of crime in the borough."
Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008