Confiscation order for fraud offender

A man who was found guilty of fraud offences must pay more than £370,000 in a confiscation order, or risk going to jail.

Aamer Pervez, 45, was originally charged in August 2023, and convicted in December 2023 at Reading Crown Court, for fraudulently claiming means tested financial assistance in the form of Direct Payments from the council towards the cost of social care.

Direct Payments are payments from a local authority to buy in a person’s own care services. They are assessed in terms of the care a person needs and assessed regarding financial means.

However, Mr Pervez failed to declare the purchase of two investment properties in Slough, which he then rented to tenants.

The total value of the fraud was £169,435.42.

He was sentenced for the two fraud offences, at Reading Crown Court in March 2024, to 19 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement for both offences, to run concurrently.

A witness statement, read in court at the time, said the money could have provided care home provision for one adult for 3.5 years, or the employment of three social workers, or the provision of domiciliary care to vulnerable people in their homes for 9,000 hours.

Since the sentencing, the council’s fraud team have been going through the process of confiscation under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) to recover the council’s losses.

On Monday 24 November, for Reading Crown Court, HHJ Rowley ordered Mr Pervez, who was present at the hearing, to pay a confiscation order of £376,550 (including £206,445 in compensation), plus prosecution costs of £23,450, to be paid within three months.

The council will receive all the compensation and prosecution costs, plus around £63,000 of the rest confiscated, resulting in a total of £292,895.

If Mr Pervez fails to take adequate steps to ensure timely payment, he faces 45 months imprisonment.

Councillor Anna Wright, lead member for adult social care, said: “This deception carried on for a number of years and meant money was diverted from those in genuine need.

“I am delighted our fraud team was successful in identifying the fraudulent activity, for taking confiscation action and recovering taxpayer money.

“There were many opportunities for the offender to tell the truth and submit details on his change in circumstances. We hope it serves as a tough lesson for him but also deters others from trying to defraud us. Always update your details if it means your eligibility for certain benefits will change.

“We will never stop working in the best interests of our residents and catching out those who only have their own interests at heart.”