Mum of five in £100,000 benefits trial

AN Oldham mother cheated the taxpayer out of £100,000 in benefit payments, a court has been told.

Nazma Hoque (38) claimed income support and housing and council tax benefit for more than 10 years, claiming she had been left to look after her young children after her husband deserted her.

But a jury at Manchester Crown Court heard Shafiqul Hoque was living with his family at their home in Sherwood Street, Oldham, the whole time.

Katherine Pierrepoint prosecuting, said Mrs Hoque had “lied blatantly” to the authorities to get benefit payments to which she had no right.

An investigation was launched after she had contacted the Department of Work and Pensions in May, 2012 to tell them there had been a reconciliation and her husband had returned to the family. The contact came only four days after her sister in law had been arrested for benefit fraud.

The court was told a paper trail of official letters and douments linked delivery driver and restaurant waiter Mr Hoque with the address over the 10-year period, including bank accounts and car tax payments.

Fraud officer Assad Younis told the court Mr Hoque had been registered with the same medical practice as his wife since 2002. Checks showed he was on the electoral roll as only having lived at the Oldham address during the period.

Mrs Hoque who came to the UK from Bangladesh in 1994, pleads not guilty to three counts of benefit fraud and two counts of failing to declare changes in her circumstances.

(Proceeding)