Another benefit cheat has had their wings clipped following an investigation from Islington Council's Benefit Fraud Team.
Anthony Clayden, of Halliford Street, N1 was sentenced at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on 31 July 2009 to 9 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 2 years, after pleading guilty to benefit fraud offences relating to his failure to declare income from a gardening business that he had been running since 2002. Clayden was additionally sentenced to a curfew restriction from the hours of 8pm to 7am for a period of 3 months, commencing 3 August 2009 and ordered to pay costs of £1,230 at a rate of £5 per week.
He will also be required to repay a total of £25,021.84 in Housing and Council Tax benefits that he had falsely claimed.
Cllr John Gilbert, Executive Member for Finance, Islington Council said:
"Benefit fraud is stealing money intended to help Islington's most vulnerable residents in genuine need. This is dishonest and we are clamping down hard on it.
"Islington Council will continue to take action against anyone who tries to cheat or scam the system to get benefits they aren't entitled to."
Islington Council’s Benefit Fraud Team found that 54-year-old Clayden was running a gardening business called "Improvin Gardens" from his Halliford Street home. He was claiming Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit based on the fact that his only income was Incapacity Benefit.
Internet searches revealed entries for a gardening and landscaping company called "Improvin Gardens", based at Halliford Gardens. The proprietor was named as Anthony Clayden.
Investigators were able to trace a NatWest bank account in Clayden’s name, which showed regular deposits, suggesting that he was in receipt of undeclared income. There were also regular transactions at garden centres and D.I.Y. stores.
When interviewed, Clayden admitted that he ran a company called "Improvin Gardens" and that he was always paid in cash, which he paid into his bank account. He said that he had failed to declare the income in three Benefit Claim Forms and two Benefit Review forms since 2002 because he "did not know how long the business was going to last".
As a result of not declaring the income from his business, Clayden was overpaid £20,349.56 in Housing Benefit and £4,672.28 in Council Tax benefit, the overpayment calculation being based on the deposits made to his bank account.
ENDS
Page Last Updated: 05 August 2009