Fraudulently claimed for council house in Hanwell

A woman who lied to get a council house and fraudulently claimed benefits has been ordered to repay more than £190,000.

Ealing Council took Constance Pappoe (also known as Constance Annan), 48, of Alton Avenue, Stanmore, to court where she pleaded guilty to 11 offences involving fraudulently obtaining council housing, fraudulently claiming housing and council tax benefit, and right to buy fraud committed during a period of 14 years at a hearing in July last year. She was sentenced to two years in jail at a hearing at Isleworth Crown Court on 18 October 2013.

Despite already owning two properties in West Kensington and Northolt, Ms Pappoe fraudulently applied for a council home in 1996, and was housed in a three bedroom maisonette in Hanwell. She also falsely claimed £31,121.25 in housing and council tax benefits over five years.

Ealing Council’s audit and investigation team launched an investigation when Ms Pappoe applied for a £16,000 discount to purchase her maisonette in Hanwell under the council’s right to buy scheme. As well as the benefits claimed, officers calculate Ms Pappoe made a saving of £125,128.20 by enjoying subsidised rent on the council property in Hanwell.

In a confiscation hearing at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, 10 January 2014, the judge granted a confiscation order for £156,259.45. Ealing Council was also awarded £31,131.25 in compensation, and Ms Pappoe was ordered to pay a further £4,671.47 to cover the council’s court costs, bringing the total owed to £192,062.17.

Ms Pappoe was given eight months to pay, and if she fails to repay the full amount, the judge ordered that she may be sent to prison for a further 30 months.

Councillor Yvonne Johnson, cabinet member for finance and performance, said: “Ms Pappoe cheated the system to get council housing and benefits she was not entitled to, and her deceit deprived those in genuine need of a council home. It's a great outcome that she has been ordered to repay the money and compensation to the council for her deceit. I hope this sends a strong message to people that even if their fraud was many years ago, we will still catch them and bring them to justice."

Anyone with information about suspected housing and benefit fraud should call the council’s fraud hotline on 0800 328 6453, where they can provide information anonymously. Alternatively, people can report fraud by emailing fraudreferrals@ealing.gov.uk.

20th January 2014