A MARRIED couple appeared before Basildon Crown Court on Monday (17 January) for sentence after admitting defrauding Thurrock Council out of nearly £17,000.
Abiola Uju Kate Iwelu-Ogunkoya (also known as Thelma Adedipe), 24, and her 30-year-old husband Akintayo Rotimi Adedipe had between them admitted charges relating to housing and council tax benefit and dishonestly furnishing a false document at an earlier hearing in August 2010.
The couple formerly of Maple Road, Grays and who now live in St. Francis Way Chadwell St Mary, are parents of four children.
Iwelu-Ogunkoya had been claiming housing and council tax benefit for a rented property in Maple Road, having declared she was a single mother with no income other than benefits.
She then submitted a fresh claim when she moved to St Francis Way, again stating she was a single parent living on benefits and that she had to pay childcare costs.
An enquiry by officers from Thurrock Council’s fraud investigation section, identified that the alleged landlord — as shown on their tenancy agreement for St Francis Way had no connection with the property and had been dead for some time prior to his name being used.
They also uncovered undeclared bank accounts and a student loan and established that Iwelu-Ogunkoya was running the child care business to which she was allegedly making payments. Adedipe was also running a business.
Following a search of their address, it was also established that Iwelu-Ogunkoya and her daughter had already been provided with council accommodation in Lambeth before moving to Essex and appeared to have been sub-letting that property.
Iwelu-Ogunkoya was sentenced to two five month prison sentences and one three month sentence to be served concurrently. The sentences were suspended for two years.
She also received a two year supervision order with 300 hours of unpaid work in the community.
Judge, Christopher Mitchell said the prison sentences were only suspended because of the children, the youngest of which was three months old.
Adedipe received a conditional discharge on the basis that the claims were made by his partner and were in her name.
