Two men were last week prosecuted and fined for attempting to defraud Greenwich Council.

Issac Adu, 46, of Tideslea Path, Thamesmead, attempted to seek a family council home but was caught out upon providing conflicting rental information in two separate applications.

Greenwich Council’s internal audit and anti-fraud team investigated and found that Adu had in fact owned the family home he had been living in since 2006 and told the team he wanted to be free from mortgage payments on his flat.

Oladipo Famojuro, 49, of Ferndown Road, Eltham, submitted an estimate for damage repair on his council-owned property following a leak.

The £950 claim, nearly £600 higher than the original estimate, was found to be false when the team noticed the telephone number on the quote to be different from that on the company’s website.

Both Adu and Famojuro appeared at Bexley Magistrates Court on September 8 with Adu pleading guilty to making a false declaration contrary to the Fraud Act 2006 and was fined £260 and ordered to pay £577.56 to Greenwich Council.

Famojuro was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £589 in costs.

Councillor Chris Kirby, Greenwich Council’s Cabinet member for housing said: “Both these cases show the Royal Borough will take a very dim view when people try to defraud us by making false claims.

“One set out to deprive the Royal Borough of its valuable housing stock when he already lived in his privately owned property. His actions were deplorable and would affect all those who are in genuine need of accommodation. We will protect our housing stock vigorously and will bring offenders to justice.”

He added: “The second case is another success story for the Royal Borough in combating a range of frauds and bringing offenders to justice.

“This case should send out a clear message to any potential fraudster that all insurance claims are scrutinised and anyone submitting a false declaration may be prosecuted. The Royal Borough will not tolerate fraudulent attacks on the public purse.”