Fraudster faces jail
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
07/01/2009
A 43 year-old fraudster who dishonestly claimed over £6,000 in benefits from the council could be set to spend the early part on 2009 in prison.
Fatima Dodson, of Roseford Court, Shepherds Bush Green, W12, pleaded guilty to charges of fraud at West London Magistrates’ Court on December 18 2008 and will learn of her fate on January 23.
Dodson, who also used the surnames Gooding and Douglas, claimed housing benefit amounting to £5,691 and council tax benefit amounting to £337 more than she was entitled to.
Dodson misdemeanours were uncovered following an investigation from the council’s corporate anti-fraud service who discovered that she had been working without telling the council.
Cllr Greg Smith, cabinet member for crime and street scene, said: “Benefit fraud will simply not be tolerated in Hammersmith & Fulham. Our corporate anti fraud service work round the clock to catch benefit cheats and the message to anyone who is considering acting in such an unscrupulous fashion is that you will be caught and you will pay the penalty.”
