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Five false names in benefits claim
1:11pm Tuesday 12th February 2008
Comments (15)A convent worker who used a string of false names to claim nearly £30,000 in benefits has narrowly avoided jail.
Pauline Hussain used five other surnames to swindle Hounslow Council out of the benefits as well as claiming to be too ill to work while at the same time working at a convent, Charing Cross Hospital and a care agency.
She also failed to declare she was married and that her husband was working.
Acton Magistrates' Court heard Hussain, 49, formerly of Eastbury Grove, Chiswick, went by other surnames, including Pegg, Kinsey, Burton, Squires and Khan to claim the benefits.
She was given a two-year suspended sentence and two-year supervision order and ordered to repay the money.
The council became suspicious when data-matching showed there was another person called Pegg living at Hussain's address.
Further investigation showed Hussain was working at Charing Cross Hospital using another name and National Insurance number.
Hussain falsely claimed £11,385 in housing benefit and £4,036 in council tax benefit between June 16, 2001, and February 19, 2006.
She had been claiming incapacity benefit on the grounds she was too ill to work, falsely claiming £12,985 from the Department for Work and Pensions. In total, Hussain received £28,408.73.
Hussain pleaded guilty to five offences under the Social Security Administration Act 1992.
Hounslow Council's lead member for finance, Gerald McGregor, said: "Using five assumed names, failing to tell us she was married, and too unwell to work, this woman was calculated in claiming benefits from Hounslow Council and the Department for Work and Pensions.
"She played the system, and for a long time she was successful at it.
"I would like to congratulate our fraud investigation unit, working alongside their counterparts at the Department for Work and Pensions on bringing this woman to justice."
Your Say YourWimbledon Guardian
Anon, Wallington says...
3:26pm Tue 12 Feb 08
Mind you looking at the surname I daresay had she been prosecuted the courts would have been accused of racisim.
Anon, London says...
8:31pm Tue 12 Feb 08
ric, kingston says...
9:30am Wed 13 Feb 08
She played the system, and for a long time she was successful at it.
telling me. she still is successful at it. no mention of paying it back?
and yes take note of the surname. because once again. it aint english.
anon, middx says...
7:06pm Wed 13 Feb 08
Anon, SURREY says...
12:19am Thu 14 Feb 08
anon wrote:She probably earny money from the wedding as well. Wedding of convenience I think its called. She gets the dosh. he gets the visa.
Shes british born and bred here, her husband is asian!
Dave, Staines says...
6:13pm Thu 14 Feb 08
ric, kingston says...
8:43am Fri 15 Feb 08
anon wrote:and you cant see whats happened there then.
Shes british born and bred here, her husband is asian!
lol
No faith in the sysem, SURREY says...
5:15pm Fri 15 Feb 08
Dave wrote:Rubbish, I have been reporting the same woman for the past 9 years for benefit fraud. She's still doing, still boasting about it. Never worked, new car on drive way, new carpets/furniture every year. 4 kids in designer clothes. She was pulled in once and interviewed. What they need to do is sit outside and watch.
If you are a benefit fraudster reading this, they will catch you. Its just a matter of time. . . .
Les, Sutton says...
9:56am Sat 16 Feb 08
Bill, Isleworth says...
7:44pm Sun 17 Feb 08
Chris, Hounslow says...
1:51pm Tue 19 Feb 08
jeff, london says...
1:01pm Tue 4 Mar 08
Jamie, says...
3:27pm Mon 17 Mar 08
dana, london says...
7:54am Mon 24 Mar 08
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sarah, Surrey says...
2:36pm Tue 12 Feb 08
being someone who has worked all her life, I can honestly say I am completely fXXXXked off with paying for this out of my hard earned wages! stop giving these people an easy time! If I stole £30000, do you think I would get a telling off! NO, being a law abiding citizen, I would probably receive a custodial sentence.