Six years of benefits fraud at an end (From Ealing Times)

Six years of benefits fraud at an end

8:45am Wednesday 25th January 2012 in News

ONE of the borough’s worst-ever benefit fraud cases has led to an Acton man being sentenced to three years behind bars.

Brahim Lounnas, 41, of Cotton Avenue, created five aliases to fraudulently claim more than £174,000 in housing and council tax benefits.

Over six years, Lounnas used the false identities to claim benefits for addresses in both Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham. He used an array of bogus documents, including bank cards and statements, payslips, tenancy agreements and national insurance numbers.

Councillor Yvonne Johnson, Ealing cabinet member for finance and performance, said: “This was a very slick fraud on a massive scale so I’m pleased the judge agreed he should be jailed. I hope other would-be fraudsters will get the message that we will catch them and bring them to justice.”

Lounnas, who has been remanded in custody since he was charged in February 2011, pleaded guilty to 13 benefit fraud offences.

Ealing Council is seeking a confiscation order to recover the stolen money and a hearing is expected to take place in July.

Anyone with suspicions that someone may be committing benefit fraud should call the council’s 24-hour fraud hotline on 0800 328 6453.