10:49 am, October 7, 2015
A WOMAN who claimed £30,000 in council benefits while running a successful used car dealership turning over up to £1m a year has avoided prison.
Joyce Abboud was given a suspended six-month sentence after admitting a single count of dishonestly claiming housing and council tax benefits.
Aboudd and her husband Youssef, of White City, West London, claimed benefits after telling Kensington & Chelsea Council that Mr Abboud was only earning an average of £100 per week from his company Abboud Ltd.
However, following enquiries by the council it was revealed that the couple’s used car dealership had an annual turnover of between £600,000 – £1m. The Abbouds also failed to declare a number of personal and business bank accounts which were used to disguise their true earnings, Isleworth Crown Court was told.
After initially pleading not guilty, Mrs Abboud admitted claiming around £30,000 in housing council tax benefits to which the couple were not entitled between October 31 2005 and July 16, 2012. She was sentenced to a six-month prison term suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to do 120 hours of community service.
A warrant for the arrest of Youssef Abboud was issued after his failure to attend an interview under caution and subsequent court appearances.
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