Jailed – benefit fraudster nailed by SBC

Hussain Hashmi, 37, who also used the names Imtiaz Hussein Shah and Imtiaz Hussein Syed, forged documents to support his claims that he paid rent to a series of landlords.

He later bought two properties using two further false identities and used the fake documents to fraudulently apply to Southend-on-Sea Borough Council for housing and council tax.

Hashmi, of Westcliff Park Drive, Westcliff-on-Sea, also filled out benefit forms for his mother, falsely claiming that she was paying rent to a bogus landlord called Riaz Syed.

But his five-year scam fell to pieces in 2008 when council officers became suspicious after they noticed Hashmi and Riaz Syed had the same mobile phone number.

His home was raided early in 2009 and investigators discovered a huge haul of evidence detailing how he had used fake identities to make fraudulent claims for benefit.

Hashmi admitted 10 specimen counts of fraud when he appeared before Basildon Crown Court last month.

On Tuesday this week (26th July) Judge Alan Saggerson jailed him for 20 months for what he described as "a deliberate criminal enterprise, professionally and carefully planned."

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Corporate Support Services, Andrew Moring, said: "The Council is committed to paying benefits to people who are entitled to receive them.

"But we will not hesitate to come down hard on anyone who abuses the benefits system by making fraudulent claims.

"This was a very sophisticated fraud with a number of severe aggravating factors and Mr Hashmi is now paying the price for his wrongdoing.

"The sentence meted out to him will hopefully act as a deterrent to anyone else thinking of abusing the benefits system."

If you have suspicions over someone's entitlement to benefit call the Benefit Fraud Report Line on 01702-215215, the Investigations Team on 01702-215254 or e-mail counterfraud@southend.gov.uk All information is treated in the strictest confidence.