9:59am Monday 30th March 2009
A COUPLE have been jailed for a benefit scam which netted them nearly £100,000.
David Simpkiss, aged 56, and Xuan Bui, aged 53, both of Vestris Road, Forest Hill, illegally claimed benefits from Lewisham Council worth £99,314.
Woolwich Crown Court heard on March 27 how Simpkiss pretended to be the landlord of a property in Vestris Road so Bui could claim housing and council tax benefits as the tenant.
They submitted false documents when claiming council tax and housing benefit, saying a man called David Thompson was the landlord and Bui was the tenant.
But it emerged they were a couple at that time and Simpkiss used the name David Thompson to conceal his identity and his relationship to Bui and their two children.
Evidence unearthed by investigating officers indicated Bui had built up an investment portfolio worth around £89,000.
However, the court heard some of the money was removed from Bui’s account once they realised officials were on to them.
In mitigation, it was claimed the couple, who had now split up, were sorry for their actions.
But Judge Charles Byers told them: “Those who steal money from a local authority or a publicly funded body steals from every honest taxpayer in the country.
“The money you steal deprives people who really need it.
“This was quite plainly a sophisticated fraud committed with supporting documents by two intelligent people who sought to gain for themselves.”
Simpkiss and Bui will have to repay the money in full and Lewisham Council is seeking a confiscation order of their assets.
They had both pleaded guilty to two counts of obtaining money by deception.
Simpkiss was given 21 months in jail on each count, while Bui was given 15 months on each offence.
The sentences will run concurrently for both of them.
Lewisham Council cabinet member for customer services Councillor Susan Wise said: “This couple deliberately set out to defraud Lewisham Council. The sum of money involved here is quite astonishing.
“Lewisham Council will not tolerate people abusing the benefits system, which is there to help people in real need.”
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