Fraudsters sentenced following council investigation

A father and daughter who attempted to dishonestly buy a council house and benefit from an £84,000 discount have been sentenced at Lewes Crown Court.

fter pleading guilty to two counts of false misrepresentation, Graham and Hayley Bradford both received 10 months imprisonment, suspended for 20 months, and each ordered to pay £3,000 costs to Lewes District Council and carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

In his sentencing remarks, His Honour Judge van der Zwart, said: “These were thoroughly dishonest attempts to profit from local government housing. These are crimes against not only the local authority, but local authority taxpayers.”

He added: "It's a testament to the diligence of the local authority enquiry team that they uncovered your dishonesty."