Well paid director pays the price for sponging taxpayers’ cash

by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
17/11/2006

A £65,000 a year Business Development Director who posed as an unemployed job seeker to scrounge housing benefits has been sentenced to 120 hours unpaid community work and ordered to pay back the swindled cash, plus costs.

Crooked Adam Barnett claimed he was unemployed and living alone in a dingy bed-sit on the New Kings Road. In fact he had just landed a well paid job in a blue chip company and was doing very nicely indeed. 

Divorced Barnett, 39, had been unemployed for a short time but bagged the well paid job in September 2004. 

Although he cancelled his job seekers allowance with the benefits agency he failed to let the council know that he was taking home about £4,000 a month. In fact, 6 months after starting in the senior position he asked the council to pay his benefits into a second bank account.

But council investigators smelt a rat and rumbled Barnett after unearthing letters and emails with his director’s title on them. 

The case went to West London Magistrates Court on October 31 where Barnett’s scam was revealed and he pleaded guilty to dishonestly failing to notify a change in circumstances.

Cllr Greg Smith, Hammersmith & Fulham Council cabinet member for crime and anti-social behaviour, said, 

“Eventually cheats in the borough will realise that it doesn’t matter who you are or how clever you think you are. If you are sponging from the system we will catch up with you eventually.”

Barnett paid back £4,127 in benefits plus £460 costs and now faces 120 hours of community service.

To report a cheat call the fraud hotline on 020 8753 1273 or click on http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/AZofServices/F/27888_Fraud_investigation.asp. 

All information is treated in the strictest confidence and you can remain anonymous if you wish.