A benefit cheat siphoned off thousands of pounds of handouts while owning a secret flat.
Chiedu Ikenma, 55, of Acre Road, Dagenham, was ordered to repay more than �5,000 and given �2,000 court costs on Monday.
He had fraudulently claimed �5,180 in Jobseeker’s Allowance and housing benefit while concealing a flat in Napier Road, Plaistow.
Barking and Dagenham Council, which brought the prosecution, pledged to leave “no stone unturned” in its ongoing drive to nail fraudsters.
Finance cabinet member, Cllr Cameron Geddes, said: “We cannot allow council taxpayers’ money to be siphoned off by people who make fraudulent benefit applications.
“That’s why we will continue to leave no stone unturned in our efforts to bring the culprits to justice.”
Ikenma pleaded guilty to three charges of making a false statement between 2006 and 2008 at Barking Magistrates Court.
He was given a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay the prosecution costs at Snaresbrook Crown Court on August 22.
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