Man pleads guilty to £24,000 benefit fraud (From Your Local Guardian)

Edirin Manovwe from Herne Hill pleads guilty to £24,000 benefit fraud

1:40pm Wednesday 29th August 2012 in Streatham

A man who scammed his way to almost £24,000 in benefits by forging bank statements has been prosecuted.

Edirin Manovwe, 30, of Poplar Road, Herne Hill, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of benefit fraud at Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court.

Mr Manovwe was sentenced to six weeks in prison, suspended over two years, in respect of each charge.

He was ordered to pay a £500 contribution to costs and a community order, requiring 100 hours of unpaid work, was imposed.

Mr Manovwe admitted producing fake bank statements to claim housing benefit and job seeker’s allowance between 2004 and 2008.

He also failed to declare he was a student at London South Bank University and receiving loans and grants.