Woman guilty of £44,000 Right to Buy home scam
A WOMAN has been convicted of a £44,000 council house scam – after she tried to buy a home she was not living in.
Donna Pring, 50, tried to take advantage of the Right to Buy scheme to claim a huge discount on the cost of the home in Solihull in January 2016.
She was a Solihull Community Housing tenant but an investigation by Solihull Council’s Fraud Team discovered she was not living in the property at the time.
If the investigation had not been carried out, she would have received a discount of around £44,000.
Now living in Tamworth, Pring was found guilty of fraud by false representation after a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
Coun Robert Hulland, Cabinet Member for Resources & Delivering Value, said: “We are delighted that Ms Pring has been found guilty after a very lengthy investigation.
“There are thousands of people waiting for a council property in the borough, so I’m pleased we were able to uncover Ms Pring’s actions and re-let the family in need.
“I hope it sends a strong message to people that fraud is not tolerated in Solihull and we will pursue those who choose to cheat the system.”
She will be sentenced on December 13 following pre-sentencing reports. unacceptable property to a