Benefits cheat jailed after stealing identity of man near Grenfell to scam thousands from fund

A fraudster who stole more than £160,000 through an elaborate benefits scam was sentenced to three and a half years in prison at Southwark Crown Court today.

Adam Mejri, 47, wept in the dock and pleaded for "mercy" as the judge handed down the 42-month custodial term.

The Department for Work and Pensions confirmed Mejri's criminal enterprise netted him over £52,000 in fraudulent employment support allowance payments, approximately £107,000 in housing benefit claims, and £4,000 in council tax support.

He had admitted two counts of fraud and two counts of dishonestly failing to notify a change in circumstances.

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The Tunisian national's offending included a brazen attempt to exploit funds established for those affected by the 2017 Grenfell Tower disaster.

In March 2018, Mejri walked into Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council offices posing as Munir Altaib, the legitimate tenant of a flat situated close to the tower.

The real Mr Altaib had departed Britain for Tunisia the previous year.

Mejri repeatedly sought £5,000 from a compensation fund created to assist residents impacted by the devastating blaze, presenting identity documents bearing the absent tenant's name.

However, council officials grew suspicious about his true identity, and the payment was never authorised.

The court heard the genuine tenant had contacted the council in April 2018, warning he had left "Britain a year ago forever" and "someone who uses my name and my house for terrorist acts" had taken over.

Meanwhile, Mejri was illegally letting the property to migrants for £1,200 per month.

Mejri simultaneously claimed employment support allowance and housing benefit whilst secretly earning rental income from two additional Westminster properties, which he had failed to declare to the council.

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When he applied for Universal Credit in July 2019 using the stolen identity, he persistently avoided Jobcentre appointments, citing physical and mental health problems that rendered him unfit for work.

Police examination of his Facebook account revealed a rather different picture: his missed appointments coincided with trips to Saudi Arabia.

On September 4, 2019, Mejri finally attended a Jobcentre appointment whilst under police surveillance and was arrested after completing a health form listing depression and schizophrenia as his conditions.

As the sentence was delivered, the defendant buried his head in his hands and sobbed: "Please have mercy."

The sentencing judge described Mejri as "a thoroughly dishonest person who preyed upon the innocence and misfortune of others".

Judge Neil Calver KC added: "What you did was a despicable thing, taking advantage of those living and around Grenfell Tower. I think you are a malingerer, playing up whatever mental health conditions that suits you."

Andrew Western, the Labour Minister for Transformation, condemned the scheme as "a shocking and calculated fraud from a brazen criminal who stole a victim's identity, exploited public support systems, and even tried to profit from the tragedy of Grenfell".

Richard Powell, Senior Crown Prosecutor, stated: "Mejri's selfish actions took tens of thousands of pounds away from those who required genuine support and financial help."

The DWP has indicated it will pursue recovery of the stolen funds.

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