Aliyah Choudry and her husband pleaded guilty after an investigation discovered their deceit.
A scheming Richmond couple have been found guilty of benefit fraud after creating multiple identities in order to claim Council Tax and Housing benefit.
Aliyah Choudhry and her husband, from Hampton, claimed over £30,000 after Mrs Choudry claimed she was unemployed and single.
Officers from the Department of Work and Pensions, alongside Richmond Council’s Audit and Investigation Team, discovered that she was actually married, and has had two full time jobs since 2007.
During the investigation, it was also found that the couple had several false identities, which they used to claim further benefits in Richmond and a neighbouring borough.
At court, Mr and Mrs Choudhry pleaded guilty to all charges, and both were issued custodial sentences. Mrs Choudhry was sentenced to 14 months, Mr Choudhry for 16 months.
Cllr Geoffrey Samuel, Richmond Council’s Deputy Leader, said the council would do its utmost to recover the amounts which have been falsely claimed.
“It cannot have escaped anyone’s notice that money is incredibly tight in local government at the moment. People like this who hijack the system to line their own pockets only deprive honest Council Tax payers who have paid their bills expecting the money to be spent on important services,” he said.
“I cannot underline enough my anger and disgust at the very small number of people in this borough who think the rules do not apply to them. We will always seek to prosecute those who think they can amass pots of cash while others, who are in genuine need, have to scrimp and save.”
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