Sentenced: Westminster Council tenant and illegal subtenant convicted of fraud
Smith and her partner were living at 10 Cuthbert House (Pic credit: Google streetview) - Credit: Archant
A man and a woman who pretended to be a couple to hide their council flat subletting scam from Westminster Council have been convicted in a landmark case.
Raymond Whittard had been illegally renting his council flat in Cuthbert House on the Hall Park Estate, Paddington, to Sharon Smith since at least 2010.
This is the first time a tenant and a subtenant have both been hauled before the courts.
When fraudbusters from Westminster Council started asking question the pair pretended to be a couple despite Smith living at the flat with her boyfriend and Whittard living in a house he bought in Altringham, Cheshire.
An investigation uncovered the truth and police raided their homes and arrested them for fraud offences.
You may also want to watch:
Both admitted the charges and on Monday Smith was given a nine months suspended jail sentence and ordered to carry out 140 hours community work.
Whittard received a 10 month suspended sentence and must do 150 hours community work.
Most Read
- 1 Fundraiser launched after beloved mum found collapsed in Barham Park dies
- 2 Brent councillor calls for improved social distancing in supermarkets
- 3 Two arrested in connection with fatal Neasden stabbing
- 4 Wembley tutor takes to Instagram to help with homeschooling
- 5 Man dies after stabbing in Brent
- 6 Fourteen fined for lockdown breach after car meet in Park Royal
- 7 Interactive Harlesden exhibition aims to make art more accessible
- 8 Wealdstone boss Brennan dubbed Gloucester City a 'very ambitious' club
- 9 QPR have match postponed at home to Wycombe due to Covid-19 precautions
- 10 Woman dies after she was found collapsed in Barham Park
Cllr Daniel Astaire, Westminster Council’s cabinet member for housing and regeneration for Westminster Council, said: “This landmark case just demonstrates the extraordinary lengths people will go to commit fraud. Every property that is unlawfully sublet deprives a family of housing and makes the waiting list longer. Fraudsters of this nature put a tremendous strain on council resources at this time of reductions in council budgets and we are doing all we can to tackle this activity in Westminster.”
