Benefits cheat claimed £18,000 (From Enfield Independent)

Winchmore Hill benefits cheat Kalender Aksoy claimed £18,000 from Enfield Borough Council

10:40am Friday 2nd November 2012 in News By Hermione Wright

A benefits cheat who fraudulently claimed more than £18,000 of taxpayers’ money has been caught.

Kalender Aksoy, who lived in Hoppers Road in Winchmore Hill, secretly bought a £400,000 property in Luton in 2004 while claiming £12,714.62 in Housing Benefit and £5,663.88 in Council Tax Benefit between 2004 and 2011.

Mr Aksoy, who has since paid back most of the money, pleaded guilty to benefit fraud at Enfield Magistrates Court on Tuesday, October 30, where he was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and handed a £550 fine.

Mr Aksoy rented out the Luton property, which consisted of two shop units and three flats, without telling Enfield Borough Council about the property or the money accumulated from its rental.

Cllr Andrew Stafford, cabinet member for finance and property, said: “People who claim these benefits often have income coming in from other sources and are motivated by sheer greed.

"I am delighted to hear another fraudster has been caught and punished.”