Man given suspended prison sentence for fraudulently claiming to be homeless

A man has been given a suspended prison sentence after fraudulently claiming to be homeless when applying for housing to South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Raymond Brown, 67, of Fulbourn, was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to fraud over a temporary housing application, a permanent housing application and council tax support.

Following the council’s investigation he must surrender his council tenancy, and proceedings have begun to recover the council’s losses, Cambridge Crown Court heard.

An investigation started after an anonymous referral to the councils fraud team, which discovered that Mr Brown had not disclosed private property ownership or rental income when applying for housing through the high priority need homelessness process, nor during the subsequent term of his tenancy.

South Cambridgeshire offered him the opportunity to take part in its ‘key amnesty’ scheme – where tenants can surrender their keys voluntarily with no action taken – but failed to do so.

John Williams, lead cabinet member for finance, said: “This case highlights why it is so important that any resident declare their circumstances fully and correctly to the council when applying for housing.”

Mark Smulian