Stourbridge News
Lye benefit cheat had £44k stashed in savings
4:30pm Monday 6th February 2012
A LYE father of seven has admitted fiddling nearly £29,000 in benefits while he had £44,000 stashed in savings.
Abdul Aziz, aged 60, was jailed for three months at Wolverhampton Crown Court after pleading guilty to two charges of failing to notify authorities of a change in his circumstances.
Recorder David Herbert told Aziz he had carried out his fraud on the benefits system for seven years as he failed to reveal his "substantial" savings.
He said: "This sort of benefit fraud is all too common and it will always be dealt with seriously."
He added only an immediate sentence of custody was appropriate for Aziz, a man of previous good character, who will now face a further hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act to seize his assets.
Laura Hobson, prosecuting, said Aziz whose children are aged between nine and 30, had personal capital "far" in excess of the amount allowed by those claiming benefits.
She said he began claiming income support and council tax benefits in 2004 and an investigation revealed he had £38,500 in savings - an amount that grew over the following years to £44,000.
When he was interviewed after his arrest Aziz, of Crabbe Street, told officers he had saved the money over a period of time and stressed it was for his children when they got married.
The total overpayment made to Aziz by the Department of Work and Pensions was £28,951, Miss Collins told the court.
Simon Mills, for Aziz, said his client had already started repaying the money he obtained illegally and added: "Before this offending he lead an entirely honest, hard working and decent life."