A benefit thief who is on the run has been ordered to repay more than £55,000 within three months – or spend an extra 18 months in prison.
James Noel Gerard O’Shea was sentenced in his absence at Luton Crown Court on June 29 to two years imprisonment after he was caught defrauding the benefits system.
O’Shea fraudulently claimed £32,273 in housing and council tax benefit from Luton Borough Council.
O’Shea had claimed for a property in Alpine Terrace, Luton, which he stated he privately rented from a landlord called Noel O’Brien.
However, the council’s investigation team established that Noel O’Brien was an alias of O’Shea.
The investigation also uncovered that he was fraudulently claiming benefits using the alias Noel O’Brien for a second property which he owned in Maple Court, Luton.
A hearing under the Criminal Justice Act at Luton Crown Court on Thursday heard that O’Shea had earned £315,467 through his life of crime.
The court ruled that O’Shea had realisable assets of £55,247 and a confiscation order in that sum was made.
O’Shea now has to pay back the cash within three months or face 18 months in prison. The debt will stay with him until it is fully repaid.
Cllr Robin Harris said: “We are delighted with this result as we have recovered a significant amount of money from O’Shea and denied him his criminal assets.
“This is our third successful confiscation hearing so far this year and means that to date, we have seized criminal assets worth £103,634.
“O’Shea remains unlawfully at large and we urge anyone with information concerning his whereabouts to contact the police.”
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