A former child actor from Anerley has been sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to defrauding four London authorities out of more than £30,000.

Jason Stracey, 31, appeared at Croydon Crown Court after raking in £30,524.44 in housing benefit by providing false documents to councils in Bromley, Greenwich, Croydon, and Lambeth.

The authorities began a joint investigation after a landlord became suspicious having found post at a claimed address but not in the name of their tenant.

Stacey, who appeared in films such as Ladybird Ladybird, No Child of Mine and Love and Other Disasters, is said to have “professionally planned” his fraud.

According to Bromley Council, Stracey used a number of identities over a “long period of time”.

The council also said as he did not agree to pay back any of the money owed he was given a 15-month term behind bars, while prosecution costs of £4,460.47 were awarded.

A Bromley Council spokesperson said: “We take all fraud committed against this authority seriously and act on any suspicions we might have or which are drawn to our attention.

“Claiming benefits you are not entitled to is fraud.  It represents a loss of income to this authority that could be used to run council services.

“Fraud against Bromley Council will not be tolerated and we will do our utmost to protect public funds.”