A benefit cheat who owned four cars has been jailed for six months following an investigation by Havering Council.
Michael Dowman, aged 35, of Jutsums Lane, Romford, received the sentence at Basildon Crown Court.
He had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to defrauding Havering Council of £38,974.66 in Housing Benefit over a period of almost seven years (7/7/03 to 19/4/10).
Whilst in receipt of housing benefit for his rent, Mr Dowman had sub-let his flat for £550 per month and was living with his girlfriend and their baby daughter.
A Havering Council investigation uncovered several undeclared bank accounts. A credit check revealed he had an active bank account and had received loans of more than £100,000 since March 2003 with various companies.
Income in another account between 8 June 2003 and 8 May 2008 alone was £59,960.
The Council investigation also revealed that Mr Dowman had bought several high value cars while receiving benefits. These included a £24,000 BMW convertible, a £21,000 Renault Megane Sport, a £17,000 Land Rover and a Ford Focus.
He also bought jewellery, booked holidays, shopped in Selfridges of London, hired out function venues and had a gym membership.
Mr Dowman admitted offences under the Social Security Act 1992 – that he dishonestly failed to notify the Council that he was receiving income/capital which was paid into undeclared bank accounts.
At sentencing on Thursday 24 February Recorder Knott said that due to the size of the overpayment this case had obviously crossed the custody threshold and sent Mr Dowman to prison.
Havering Councillor Roger Ramsey, Cabinet Member for Value, said: "We are delighted that the court has handed down a jail sentence. People who commit benefit fraud are total scroungers.
"While hard-working families were struggling to make ends meet, he was driving around in £20,000 cars bought with money intended for those who have genuinely fallen on hard times. It's vital we continue to catch these criminals who are stealing hardworking taxpayers' money."
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