A HENDON man has been jailed for scamming Barnet Council of more than £50,000 of taxpayers money.

Joseph Saifi, of Edgworth Close, admitted making illegal housing and council tax benefit claims between May 2002 and October 2007 in January.

This week he was jailed for 15 months at Wood Green Crown Court on Monday.

Investigators for the council discovered he had two children with the woman he claimed was his landlord, and she was also the director of the business he said he was a secretary for.

Further investigations uncovered previously undeclared bank accounts with large payments from the landlady's account made into it.

However, in three interviews under caution by the fraud team he gave misleading and false statements to the Corporate Anti Fraud investigators.

He was charged with five counts of dishonestly making a false statement, one count of dishonestly obtaining money transfers by deception and one count of dishonestly obtaining exemption for liability to pay council tax.

He admitted all the charges against him and will now serve 15 months in prison. The total amount of overpayment was £51,925.16 Councillor Daniel Webb, who is responsible for policy and performance, said: TThe fraud carried out by Joseph Saifi was extremely serious and took place over a number of years.

"The amount of money overpaid is among the biggest cases of benefit fraud this council has ever dealt with and I would like to applaud the officers for their commitment and attention to detail that resulted in this man being brought to court to face justice for his crimes.

"I hope this also acts as a real warning to any other people out there claiming benefits illegally."

If you suspect someone of benefit fraud you can contact Barnet Council's Corporate Anti Fraud Team in confidence on 020 8359 2007.