Crime Solicitors

Bromley Council in Kent has prosecuted a 45-year-old benefit claimant, after he was found to be committing benefit fraud.

Fitzgerald Bruce, 45, from Anerley was sentenced to imprisonment at Bexley Magistrates’ Court in May, after pleading guilty to claiming Council Tax Benefit/Support when he had capital over the prescribed limit in the form of another property he was renting out.

Benefit assessors referred the case to the fraud team after they became suspicious that he may not have declared his correct income details.

Bruce denied that he solely owned the property he lived in and another in Casewick Road, Lewisham, in south London.

He provided a prepared statement via his solicitor and refused to answer any other questions. His prepared statement stated that he owned approximately 30% of the properties and made no gain from renting one out.

Bruce received £6,719.60 in Council Tax Benefit/Support between 25 August 2008 and 1 April 2017 – the full amount has been repaid.

He pleaded not guilty at his first court appearance and a trial date was set –
however, on the day of the trial, he changed his plea to guilty on all three charges and was sentenced to 30 weeks’ imprisonment and ordered to pay £2,000 in prosecution costs.

A Bromley Council spokesperson said:

“We welcome this result and the custodial sentence as it sends a clear message that fraud committed by these cheats will not be tolerated.

“This authority has a zero tolerance to fraud – those who claim allowances, such as Council Tax Support, to which they are not entitled, are committing fraud that represents a loss of income to Bromley Council.

“It is a waste of public funds, meant for those in genuine need.”

Duncan Lewis Criminal Lawyers

Duncan Lewis Criminal Lawyers can advise at any stage of a charge involving benefit fraud, including charges relating to: