Fraudulent DJ spent proceeds on car and watches

Tuesday January 10, 2012

A fraudulent DJ who spent the proceeds of his crimes on two designers watches and a car has pleaded guilty to benefit fraud.

Adrian Prince, 37, defrauded Hammersmith & Fulham Council out of over £15,000 by claiming housing and council tax benefit that he was not entitled to.

Prince, of Stebbing House, Shepherds Bush failed to tell the council that he had started working as a DJ and was no longer entitled to Job Seekers Allowance.

Because he did not declare this change in his circumstances or his real income, the council was unaware that he was no longer entitled to the maximum entitlement for housing and council tax benefit.

The Council’s corporate anti-fraud team investigated the matter and were able to determine that Prince had spent the proceeds of his crime on the watches and the car.

Prince eventually pleaded guilty to benefit fraud at Isleworth Crown Court on Monday, January 9 and will be sentenced in March.

Cllr Greg Smith, cabinet member for residents’ services, said: ““Benefit fraud will not be tolerated in Hammersmith & Fulham and we will continue to bring those who cheat the system to justice. The council carefully scrutinises how every penny of tax-payers money is spent and it is clearly preposterous for a fraudster like Prince to spend public money on a car and expensive watches. We will continue to clamp down hard on those who think that fraud is acceptable.”

In total, Prince defrauded the Council out of £13,364 housing benefit and £2,454 of council tax benefit.