A council tenant has received a 20 month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, for fraudulently attempting to purchase a three bedroom house with a £80,900 discount.
Debbie Mclean, 54, from Hove, was prosecuted by Lewes District Council after claiming she lived at the three bedroomed house in Green Park Corner, Wivelsfield Green, Haywards Heath, when she applied to buy the property in June 2018.
Although she was the registered tenant, she had moved out of the property and been residing at various addresses across Sussex since 2014. If she had still been a tenant at the property, Mclean would have been entitled to a £80,900 discount on the purchase price under Right to Buy rules.
The false declaration and abandonment of the property was discovered by the council’s counter fraud team, whose investigation of the case, included use of covert surveillance of Mclean which proved she was not living at Green Park Corner.
This lead to the successful prosecution for fraud by false representation, the first case of Right to Buy fraud brought by Lewes District Council. The council also took possession proceedings to ensure that the property could be used by a family in genuine housing need.
In addition to the 20 month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, Mclean is required to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, 15 rehabilitation activity days and a victim surcharge of £140 was applied.
In passing sentence at Brighton Crown Court Judge Barnes referred to the offence as ‘thoroughly dishonest’ and described Mclean’s actions as ‘despicable’. She said Mclean had deprived others more in need of accommodation for the sake of her own self-interests since the property could have been used to the advantage of a family with children.
Councillor William Meyer, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Housing fraud deprives people in need from having a home and we have a zero tolerance approach. We investigate all reports received and take swift action against anyone found offending. This may include prosecution, as highlighted by this case.”
By Patrick Mooney, Editor