A former Leeds City Council worker has pleaded guilty and has been prosecuted for unlawfully claiming benefits of just over £10,000.

Gift Chimwara, 36 from Leeds, has been sentenced to 150 hours unpaid work along with a 12 month community service order and a fine of £85 after being charged under the theft act.

Gift Chimwara claimed housing & council tax benefit from Leeds City Council from 26th September 2005 to 27th April 2009, and claimed to be a self-employed barber, but omitting the fact he was working for the council at the same time.

Following a data-matching exercise, Chimwara was found to be working for Leeds City Council. An investigation by the council confirmed that he had been employed by the council from 2005 in a full time capacity and that his earnings from this employment however were not reported on any of his housing & council tax benefit claims. Chimwara was immediately suspended.

Steven Carey, chief revenues and benefits officer said:
“I hope this sends out a stark reminder to benefit cheats that we can and will take action against them. The public has the right to expect the highest standards of integrity from people who work for the Council and this case demonstrates that we will take action where these standards are not met.

“Benefit fraud is a serious crime, but it also affects other people by taking money that could be better used helping people in genuine difficulty.