Adam Mejri, 47, has been jailed after he used a fake identity to claim he was the tenant of a flat near to Grenfell Tower so as to take funds provided to those affected by the fire
Adam Mejri has been jailed(Image: DWP)
A man used a fake identity to claim a flat by Grenfell Tower and tried to take funds provided for residents affected by the 2017 fire, a court heard.
Adam Mejri, 47, sobbed in the dock and begged for “mercy” at Southwark Crown Court on Friday as he was jailed for 42 months after a string of fake claims.
The Department for Work and Pensions said Mejri took more than £160,000 in benefits and council support. This included more than £52,000 in fraudulent employment support allowance claims, around £107,000 in housing benefit claims and £4,000 in local council tax support.
Prosecutors said Mejri repeatedly tried to claim a £5,000 support fund for residents affected by the 2017 Grenfell Tower blaze.
In March 2018, the defendant attended Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council offices claiming to be the tenant of an empty flat close to the tower. The real tenant had left the UK, the court heard.
Mejri produced identity documents in the tenant’s name and the council removed a metal security door that was in front of the flat, prosecutors said. He then repeatedly tried to get the compensation payment, which the tenant of the flat qualified for.
But officials had concerns about his identity and the money was never given, the court heard.
Mejri was also redirecting the former tenant’s post to other addresses and began sub-letting the flat for £1,200 a month, prosecutors said. In July 2019, he allegedly used the same false identity to claim universal credit.
But he repeatedly avoided attendance at Jobcentre appointments, claiming to be physically and mentally unwell and that he was unfit for work.
When police looked into his Facebook account, the missed appointments coincided with times when he was in Saudi Arabia.
Prosecutors said that Mejri claimed ESA and housing benefit at the same time he was earning money by sub-letting two other properties in Westminster. He had not declared the income to Westminster Council.
Mejri had pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud and two counts of dishonestly failing to notify a change in circumstances. His Honour Judge Baumgartner, sentencing, said Mejri is a “thoroughly dishonest person who preyed upon the innocence and misfortune of others”.
Minister for Transformation Andrew Western said: “This was 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.”
Senior crown prosecutor Richard Powell said: “Mejri’s selfish actions took tens of thousands of pounds away from those who required genuine support and financial help.”
