Harrow Council cracks down on Indian-origin benefit fraudster
Patel, 32, lived in a 3-bedroom house on Wealdstone’s Graham Road along with his mother. Although a joint-owner of the residence along with his mother, Patel provided a signed letter to the Harrow Council stating that the two were not related and pretended that he didn’t even know his mother.
The Council cracked down on Patel when its fraud team launched an investigation after becoming suspicious that Patel knew his landlord.
The investigation team found that Hiren Patel was a joint mortgage-holder on the house and has been living there with both his parents, his brother and another guest. For almost four years, he was paying “rent” to his mother and claiming benefits despite jointly owning the house.
On December 17, Patel appeared at Willesden Magistrates Court where he admitted that he was claiming housing benefit from the Harrow Council fraudulently.
Patel has been ordered to repay £5,353 compensation, pay £1,000 towards prosecution costs, and a £60 victim surcharge. He has also been ordered to do Community Order of 150 hours unpaid work.
“This is a disgraceful example of a dishonest man deliberately stealing valuable resources from people who really need them,” said Councilor Susan Hall, Leader of Harrow Council.
“We are determined to root out this criminal behaviour, on behalf of the taxpayers of Harrow, and the residents who legitimately need these benefits,” she added.
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