Leeds Brothers Convicted of Housing Benefit Fraud

Two brothers in Leeds have received tough sentences for housing benefit fraud, even though they have repaid the money back to the Council in full. They received £23,000 of housing benefit after claiming one of them lived in a property which was actually being rented out. Despite repaying the Council in full before they sentenced, the court handed down a 6 month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, as well as 200 hours’ unpaid work. For the original story, click here.

This is an important reminder that, for the authorities, benefit fraud prosecutions are not just about recovering money; they are also about punishing the perpetrators and sending a message to society. That is why professional legal representation is so vital in order to give you the best possible chance of avoiding prosecution and the risk of heavy penalties.