{"id":8395,"date":"2026-07-10T13:53:54","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T13:53:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/benefit-fraudster-who-used-fake-identity-to-claim-grenfell-funds-sobs-in-court\/"},"modified":"2026-07-10T13:53:54","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T13:53:54","slug":"benefit-fraudster-who-used-fake-identity-to-claim-grenfell-funds-sobs-in-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/benefit-fraudster-who-used-fake-identity-to-claim-grenfell-funds-sobs-in-court\/","title":{"rendered":"Benefit fraudster who used fake identity to claim Grenfell funds sobs in court"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_3d5bec\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">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<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\"><\/span><span class=\"ArticleTimestamp_updated-date__7qD4Q ArticleTimestamp_updated-date-with-published__iFKpF\" data-testid=\"byline-updatedDate\">Updated <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37415327\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Adam Mejri\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37415327.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/2_Adam-Mejri.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37415327.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/2_Adam-Mejri.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37415327.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/2_Adam-Mejri.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37415327.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/2_Adam-Mejri.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Adam Mejri has been jailed\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Adam Mejri has been jailed<cite aria-label=\"Image: DWP\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: DWP)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A man used a fake identity to claim a flat by <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/grenfell-tower-fire\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Grenfell Tower<\/a> and tried to take funds provided for residents affected by the 2017 fire, a court heard.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Adam Mejri, 47, sobbed in the dock and begged for \u201cmercy\u201d at Southwark Crown Court on Friday as he was jailed for 42 months after a string of fake claims.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Department for Work and <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/pensions\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Pensions<\/a> said Mejri took more than \u00a3160,000 in benefits and council support. This included more than \u00a352,000 in fraudulent employment support allowance claims, around \u00a3107,000 in housing benefit claims and \u00a34,000 in local council tax support.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Prosecutors said Mejri repeatedly tried to claim a \u00a35,000 support fund for residents affected by the 2017 Grenfell Tower blaze.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37267460\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37267460\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Southwark Crown Court\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37267460.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/3_Villarreals-Thomas-Partey-to-appear-in-London-court-on-rape-sexual-assault-charges.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37267460.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/3_Villarreals-Thomas-Partey-to-appear-in-London-court-on-rape-sexual-assault-charges.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37267460.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/3_Villarreals-Thomas-Partey-to-appear-in-London-court-on-rape-sexual-assault-charges.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37267460.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/3_Villarreals-Thomas-Partey-to-appear-in-London-court-on-rape-sexual-assault-charges.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Mejri was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Mejri was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court<cite aria-label=\"Image: Anadolu via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mejri produced identity documents in the tenant\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But officials had concerns about his identity and the money was never given, the court heard.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mejri was also redirecting the former tenant\u2019s post to other addresses and began sub-letting the flat for \u00a31,200 a month, prosecutors said. In July 2019, he allegedly used the same false identity to claim universal credit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But he repeatedly avoided attendance at Jobcentre appointments, claiming to be physically and mentally unwell and that he was unfit for work.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">When police looked into his <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/facebook\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Facebook<\/a> account, the missed appointments coincided with times when he was in Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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 \u201cthoroughly dishonest person who preyed upon the innocence and misfortune of others\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Minister for Transformation Andrew Western said: \u201cThis was a shocking and calculated fraud from a brazen criminal who stole a victim\u2019s identity, exploited public support systems and even tried to profit from the tragedy of Grenfell.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Senior crown prosecutor Richard Powell said: \u201cMejri\u2019s selfish actions took tens of thousands of pounds away from those who required genuine support and financial help.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/grenfell-benefit-fraud-adam-mejri-37415225\" target=\"_blank\">Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Adam Mejri, 47, has been jailed after he used a fake identity to claim he<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8396,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8395","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2_Adam-Mejri.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8395"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8395\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8396"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}