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Man hid ã17k savings to claim benefits
A man who hid several bank accounts while claiming benefits was ordered to do 140 hours community service, and pay more than ã8,000 costs.
Ayad Elbedri, formerly of Chatsworth Court, Penbroke Road, North Kensington, admitted seven charges of benefit fraud, totalling ã19,000 of deception, at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday July 23.
Kensington and Chelsea Council was alerted to Elbedri's scam when his post was returned from the Chatsworth Court address, and being redirected to Marlborough Hill in Harrow.
Using powers under the Social Security Act, investigators got hold of his bank statements, which revealed that he had failed to declare five accounts with Barclays and two with Halifax, and at one point he had a total of ã17,000 in his accounts.
Once his true financial circumstances were known, the council decided that Elbedri was not entitled to any benefits, and that he had been overpaid by ã19,325.
Councillor Warwick Lightfoot, cabinet member for finance, said: "This was a clear case of unlawful abuse. This council will robustly and effectively ensure that abuse of the benefits system is tackled in the wider public interest."
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