A massive and intricate series of frauds, involving two Ugandan sisters, has been uncovered by Croydon Council.

The siblings, who were living and working in the UK illegally, have been jailed following an investigation led by Croydon Council’s corporate anti-fraud team.

Yudaya Nassolo, 41, and Rachael Thorn, 35, were sentenced to three years and 21 months respectively at Croydon Crown Court on Tuesday. They will be deported after serving their jail terms.

Following a tip-off, the council’s corporate anti-fraud team discovered that despite having no recourse to public funds and no right to work in the UK Nassolo had fraudulently claimed more than £135,000 in support from Croydon Council by using somebody else’s identity.

Using the alternative identity, she had also been working at a care home in Wallington, as well as receiving a bursary from the NHS valued at £17,650 while studying to be a nurse.

Nassolo was arrested at the care home in June last year and her home in Manchester Road, Thornton Heath, was searched.

Officers discovered forged documents, bank accounts, savings and money transfers to Kampala in Uganda.

Her husband, Isaac Muwuwa Gwayambedde, 52, was arrested at the home after being found to be using a false name.

He later pleaded guilty to possessing false documents and was jailed for eight months at Croydon Crown Court in July 2008. He was deported in December.

Nassolo also pleaded guilty but her sentencing was deferred after the investigation discovered that her sister, Rachael Thorn, was working illegally at a

target="_blank">Sutton hospital and was also using the same alternative identity.

Thorn’s husband David, 56, of Douglas Close, Wallington, was found guilty of entering into marriage in order to facilitate her indefinite leave to remain in the UK and was sentenced to nine months in custody.

Councillor Sara Bashford, cabinet member for resources and customer services, said: “We are delighted at the outcome of this long and complex investigation and are grateful to our partner agencies that helped us to put a stop to the fraudulent activities of this family.

"We are determined to stamp out fraud, and I hope this case acts as a warning to others.”

• What do you think? Let us know by email here or phone the newsdesk on 020 8330 9554.