10 fake identities of migrant in £60k benefits swindle
A JOBLESS illegal migrant who has fathered at least five children by different women in Britain while swindling £60,000 benefits has been jailed for five years.
Tyler Longman, from Zimbabwe, faked documents to obtain a British passport and used a string of aliases to claim benefits, a court heard.
Longman, 29, who attended court with a pregnant fiancee, came to Britain more than 12 years ago.
It is believed he used at least 10 aliases and six dates of birth from 2006 when he first claimed benefits.
Also known as Ulrich Trevor Johnson, Longman fathered at least five children by different women. When his fiancee’s baby is born, it will be her second with him.
When questioned by Department for Work and Pensions investigators, he said he had “five stroke six” children, before blaming one of the mothers for providing him with a Nigerian driving licence.
Longman admitted fraud on Tuesday, just minutes before he was due to go on trial at Canterbury Crown Court in Kent, accused of illegally claiming income support and other benefits. Judge Simon James told Longman, of Ramsgate, Kent, there had been “overwhelming evidence” that he had lived illegally in Britain under assumed names.
Longman broke down sobbing as his barrister, Jessica Ward, told the court that “he is now embarrassed and ashamed about what he has done”.
She said: “When he came to the UK he worked and paid tax and only began claiming benefits when he was ill. He has fathered a number of children and is a good father, playing an active role in their lives.”