A Woolwich conman who fraudulently claimed more than £50,000 has been jailed.

Abdelilah Mennani, 50, formerly of Archway Court, has been jailed for 16 months after pleading guilty to 20 fraud offences.

Woolwich Crown Court heard on June 2 that Mennani, using the fake identity of Italian man Frederico Zilio, got a one bedroom council flat in Middle Park Avenue, Eltham.

He also used his fake identity to sign-on every two weeks and claim housing and council tax benefit.

In total he received £26,559 of housing benefit, £6,250 of council tax benefit and £19,917 in Job Seekers' Allowance.

Greenwich Council's cabinet member for customer services and IT, Councillor Maureen O'Mara said: "This was benefit fraud on a massive scale and Mennani is now paying for it with a custodial sentence.

"We will not hesitate to prosecute anyone who makes money from depriving a needy person of a home."

In 2013 Greenwich Council discovered Mennani's fake identity which he had been using since April 2000 and he was sub-letting his council flat whilst living with his wife and children at another address in Archway Court, Woolwich Dockyard.

Council officers visited him at his address in Middle Park Avenue where he claimed to be Mr Zilio and living on his own. Police were waiting outside and arrested him.

Both Mennani's addresses were searched and documents were found in both the names of Mennani and Zilio with the same photo which were seized, along with £1,000 in cash.

It was also found he had £1,100 in a bank account held in the name of Zilio and £6,000 held in a Moroccan bank account held in the name of Mennani.

Mennani's assets have been seized and he agreed to surrender the money held in the Zilio bank account but refused to surrender the £1,000 found at his family home.

Greenwich Council have recovered his Middle Park Avenue flat and given it to a person in genuine need.

They are also working with the Department of Work and Pensions to recover the £52,727 Mennani claimed fraudulently.

Residents suspecting anyone of fraud should call Greenwich Council's fraud team on 0800 169 6975 or email fraud@royalgreenwich.gov.uk