Jail for fraudsters who stole NHS identities

Five fraudsters who plotted to cheat £1million from the taxpayer in a ‘very substantial attack on the benefits system’ have been jailed for a total of 25 years.

Charles Winful, 26, ran the industrial-scale scam ‘like a business’ using the identities of around 1,200 NHS staff to make dodgy claims for over two years.

He sent out ‘strikers’ including Folageshin Arowosaye, 22, to apply for benefits at job centres using forged identity documents with the details of NHS workers.

The names supplied by NHS human resources officer Keon Willabus, 25, allowed the fraudsters to splash out on an £8,500 BMW and a Mercedes CLK while they netted £56,000 a month.

Trishan Burland, 26, was dubbed ‘The Beast’ for his incredible ability to submit reams of benefits claims after he joined his brother Elwyn, 25, in the scam in 2012.

Southwark Crown Court heard the gang needed nearly £500,000 from the scam while £455,000 worth of claims that fell through.

Prosecutor Gareth Munday said: ‘This was a sophisticated fraud with significant planning run as a business.

‘They were able to obtain and produce false identity documents with photographic identity on them such as driving licences.

‘The fraudulent activity was sustained over a long period of time.

‘There were a number of victims, not just the public purse but those whose identities were stolen.’

He continued: ‘The Crown put Keon Willabus and Charles Winful at the very head of this conspiracy, for them there are the added aggravating features, the fact that this was an abuse of trust.

‘Elwyn Burland and Trishan Burland are said to be directly on the next rung down, the right hand men of Keon Willabus and Charles Winful.’

When police raided Elwyn Burland’s home they were astonished to see £12,000 in notes fluttering into the back garden as he desperately tried to hide the evidence.

He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation along with Trishan Burland and Winful.

Willabus was one of six others – including Winful’s 24-year-old girlfriend Makayla Minjo – who pleaded guilty before the trial began.

Daniel Twumasi, 22, Shalim Frank, 21, Alan Nsowah, 22, and Arowosaye each also admitted playing a role in the conspiracy after their homes were used as ‘fraud factories’ between July 2011 and September 2013.

Judge Martin Beddoe jailed Winful for six and a half years, Willabus for five years and eight months, Elwyn Burland for five and a half years, and Trishan Burland for five years.

Arowosaye was jailed for two years and five months for his lesser role in the gang.

Judge Beddoe said: ‘This fraud involved a very substantial attack on the benefits system of this country.

‘It is a system designed to help the disadvantaged, the impoverished, and those affected by disability.

‘It is not designed to line the pockets of those like you.’

He continued: ‘Greed, and very determined greed, got the better of you.

‘The ambitions of this fraud are frankly quite staggering.

‘Over 1300 identities were compromised as a result of which close to £500,000 was obtained from public funds and diverted away from the good causes and the proper beneficiaries for whom that money was intended.

‘They of course still get their money, those claimants, but the taxpayer has to make up the difference.’

He added: ‘I’m told that some further £455,000 would have been lost by the state and of course, had the fraud not been brought to an end in September 2013.’

The court heard that Arowosaye has shown remorse since his arrest, but judge Beddoe added:

‘In the cases of Charles Winful, Elwyn Burland and Trishan Burland I find absolutely no remorse whatsoever,’ he said.

‘They [are] like the tears of the crocodile, tears of remorse I simply don’t believe in each of your three cases.’

He added: ‘Keon Willabus you delayed pleading guilty until you were quite sure there were no means by which you could wriggle out.’

Police searched the Burlands’ home address on September 25, 2013 and £12,000 was recovered outside after Elwyn tried to throw it from his younger sister’s bedroom window.

Officers also found three of the four bank cards that had been used to launder monies from the fraudulent claims to the DWP.

A folder containing 396 blank falsified ‘fit notes’ that could be used to avoid fraudsters having to make face-to-face claims for twelve weeks were found along with a large quantity of cash.

A computer was also recovered which contained information about a number of job centre offices and associated identities.

Winful, of Thessaly Road, Wandsworth, and the Burland brothers, both of Mornington Mews, Camberwell, were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.

Willabus, of Dahlia Gardens, Mitcham, Surrey, and Arowosaye, Laird House, Camberwell, southeast London, sat impassively through the hearing before they were sent down to the cells.