A tiler was convicted of benefit fraud after boasting on his company's website he "works all the way through the year."
Andrew Bradbury, 50, of Kinloss Road, Carshalton, was sentenced to 200 hours community punishment at Camberwell Green magistrates' court after the court heard he was overpaid £11,542.66 in Housing Benefit, £2,742.77 Council Tax Benefit and £10,250.11 from the Department of Work and Pensions.
Shameless Bradbury boasted on his company website, bradburyandson.com: "We work all the way through the year. The rain does not stop us as we have our mobile canopy to allow us to keep working throughout the winter months."
The website featured a number of photographs of Bradbury working in addition to a gallery of completed jobs.
The fraud was first suspected by the council when they noticed a discrepancy on Bradbury's claim for Housing and Council Tax Benefit.
An internet search, brought up the the company's website for Bradbury & Son, which the investigation was able to link to Mr Bradbury.
Bradbury was arrested and his property searched by the police and while interviewed under caution admitted to working on-and-off since 2005.
The council will be seeking full recovery of the overpayment from Mr Bradbury.
Councillor Richard Clifton, lead member for revenues and benefits, said: "Benefits cheats are stealing money from residents who work hard and pay their bills. Sutton’s fraud investigators work equally hard to make sure the cheats are caught and punished."
If you suspect someone is claiming Housing and Council Tax Benefit, contact the Council's Investigation Team, in confidence, on 020 8770 5687 or via sutton.gov.uk.
Alternatively call the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 328 6340 or Textphone on 0800 328 6341.
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