Suspended sentence for Edmonton tax scammer (From Enfield Independent)

Suspended sentence for Edmonton tax scammer

1:22pm Monday 8th February 2010

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(1)

AN Edmonton man has received a suspended prison sentence for falsely claiming more than £14,000 in benefits.

Christopher Udorly, of Church Street, was sentenced at Enfield Magistrates Court on January 28 to three months' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and 150 hours of unpaid community work.

He was also ordered to pay £900 towards prosecution costs and attend a Think First programme.

Udorly, 52, was brought before magistrates following an investigation by Enfield Council’s housing benefit investigation team.

He was discovered to have falsely claimed £6,145 in housing benefit between May 1, 2008, and February 8, 2009.

The team uncovered more fraud in Islington, where Udorly falsely claimed £8,507 in housing benefit and £807 in council tax benefit.

Enfield councillor Ertan Hurer was scathing about the benefits of the Think First course that Udorly was ordered to complete.

He said: "It seems ludicrous to me to send a man on a course, paid for by the taxpayer, to understand that it is immoral and illegal to steal from the taxpayer.

"It seems like hard working taxpayers are being taken for a ride yet again.

"I think there should be a re-think on Think First."

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(1)