A Croydon fraudster who falsely claimed his father had died in the Grenfell Tower fire has today been jailed for 18 months.

Mohammad Gamoota, of Leafy Way at the time, admitted to two fraud charges after he was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on June 1.

The 31-year-old also made internet searches using the words: “Grenfell Tower fraud”.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) he researched a newspaper article regarding one of the 72 real victims, using their name and information to claim free hotel accommodation and cash.

He received £500, after unsuccessfully applying for another £4,500, got £901 worth of free hotel accommodation across nine days and racked up a £354 room service bill.

Gamoota, who was caught collecting emergency relief money from a post office last October, was later identified by a social worker after suspicions were raised.

All along he was living with his mum in Croydon.

Kate Mulholland, of the London CPS Complex Casework Unit, said: “People who are moved to give money to charity expect it to reach the real victims, especially in such a tragedy as the Grenfell Tower fire which took so many lives and affected so many people.

“When someone sets out to lie to access that money it is only right that justice is done and seen to be done.

“When suspicions were aroused and he knew he could not keep up his lie, Gamoota disappeared but the prosecution was able to link him back to the fraud.”

The 31-year-old man admitted to two charges of fraud, between June 14 and July 29 last year, relating to money from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.