Jail let-off for £100k benefits cheat mum

A BENEFITS cheat who pocketed nearly £100,000 on behalf of relatives no longer living in the UK has been spared jail.

Mother-of-eight Saaba Mahmood claimed handouts on behalf of her aunt and uncle for up to five years even though they were living in their native Pakistan, a court heard.

When she was caught she claimed she was unaware she could not claim for relatives abroad. Her lawyers also said she “lacked skills in understanding how to live in society as a responsible adult”.

Mahmood, 36, received a 16-month jail term suspended for 18 months after admitting four charges of failing to disclose information to make a gain and one offence of fraud.

Julian Goode, prosecuting, told Manchester Crown Court Mahmood acted as an appointee for her aunt, uncle and mother and had a duty to declare changes in circumstances that would affect the benefit claims.

Mahmood, he said, claimed disability living allowance for her aunt and employment and support allowance (ESA) from 2013 to 2018.

Mr Goode told the court: “There is evidence to show her aunt left the UK

Inferno... the Sisu hotel burns as guests clamber down the outside walls, right. Left,TV’s Michelle and Mark during a trip there

in January 2014 to go to her daughter’s wedding in Pakistan but fell ill there and did not return to the UK until October 28, 2018.

“The defendant did not disclose this and continued to receive those payments on her behalf between February 2014 and October 2018. These payments totalled £62,406.52.”

Mr Goode said her uncle claimed the same benefits and Mahmood became his appointee in July 2012.

Remorseful

The money went into her bank account even though her uncle was out of the country on and off for many months between November 2012 and December 2017.

Mr Goode said Mahmood did not report the change and was overpaid by £32,074.52. He also said Mahmood wrongly received £325 ESA in connection with her mother, making a total overpayment of £94,858.44.

Lawyers for Mahmood, of Heald Green, Stockport, told an earlier hearing she said she would “benefit from programmes to help her understand these are not victimless offences”. They said: “She lacks skills in understanding how to live in society as a responsible adult.”

Isobel Thomas, defending, said Mahmood was remorseful and pleaded guilty immediately.

She said: “Immediate custody will have a significant harmful impact on others.

“She has eight children aged between one and 13 who [will] have to go into foster care as her husband has schizophrenia and is unable to care for them.”

Ms Thomas added: “She has never troubled the courts before and no longer claims benefits. She would comply with all requirements of a suspended sentence.”

Judge Angela Nield, who also gave Mahmood 15 rehabilitation days and 150 hours of unpaid work, told her: “It seems to me there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation in your case.

“I have somewhat reluctantly concluded that I can suspend your sentence.”

Mahmood will face a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing in November.