Crime Solicitors

An 80-year-old man who fraudulently claimed £69,000 in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit over an eight-year period has been sentenced to 40 weeks in jail at Oxford Crown Court.

Online publisher 24Dash.com reports that Richard Denby was also ordered to repay the relevant authorities £55,000 in compensation.

The court heard that Denby – originally from Barrow-upon-Humber in Lincolnshire – had rented properties in Cherwell, Cotswold and Waveney. He had told landlords that he was a retired Army officer with a low income from a small pension.

At each property he rented, Denby applied for benefits, but failed to declare each of the properties to the different authorities – and the fact he owned four properties in Hull, which he rented out to tenants.

Denby also failed to declare that he held more than £16,000 in assets, which would have excluded him from receiving benefits.

The court was told that despite being in receipt of benefits, Denby regularly failed to pay his landlords rent – and after being evicted from properties, he would move on to a different area and repeat the housing scam there, leaving a trail of debt behind.

In 2008, one of Denby’s landlords contacted local council officers in Cherwell and advised them Denby had suddenly quit the property leaving outstanding debts regarding rental payments. As a result of leaving the property suddenly, Denby had obtained an extra month of housing benefit. The council then launched an investigation into Denby’s activities and benefit claims.

When council investigators caught up with him, Denby declined to answer questions about his personal wealth and capital assets, however.

Thames Valley Police became involved in the investigation and a search warrant was used to search a property Denby was renting at Wantage. The search uncovered rent books, bank statements and a copy of wills relating to properties left to Denby by his parents. After his father’s death in 1956, Denby took possession of 16 properties in Hull, the court heard.

Denby’s defence lawyer told the court:

“He is a man of 80 with the associated health problems and frailties. He’s someone who has reached the age of 80 without having been in trouble in the courts before. His age should be taken into account as a factor to reduce seriousness.”


Judge Zoe Smith took into account Denby’s age, a benefit repayment of £12,000 and his lack of previous convictions, but added “the claims were fraudulent from the outset and the length of time the fraud was committed was substantial”.

Duncan Lewis Benefit Fraud Lawyers

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of specialist benefit fraud lawyers and can advise at any stage of a charge for benefit fraud, including benefit fraud charges relating to:

• Bedroom Tax Fraud
• Blue Badge Fraud
• Child Tax Credits Fraud
• Council Tax Fraud
• Housing Benefit Fraud
• Income Support Fraud
• Jobseeker’s Allowance Fraud
• Pension Credits Fraud
• Working Tax Credit Fraud
• Universal Credit Fraud.

Duncan Lewis is also a leading provider of Legal Aid services.

For expert legal advice on benefit fraud charges, call Duncan Lewis benefit fraud lawyers on 020 7923 4020.