January 17, 2001 14:52: A famous Iranian musician faces prison for swindling thousands of pounds of false housing benefits while living in Ealing.

Popular performer and songwriter Babak Radmanesh, whose real name is Firooz Berenjan, has admitted three charges of false accounting totalling £35,000, although Ealing Council claims the true figure he swindled was £60,000.

Isleworth Crown Court heard on Tuesday last week that Berenjan, 49, was renting a £300,000 house in The Knoll while claiming £246 a week in benefits and failed to declare to the benefit office that he was living with his wife and profiting from his professional career.

It has taken more than three years to convict Berenjan, after two previous trials were abandoned.

Ealing Council joined forces with the police and Berenjan was arrested in February 1998. Investigators went to Manchester and Newcastle to challenge witness statements.

"I'm pleased that we've been able to resolve this case," said council leader John Cudmore.

"It demonstrates that Ealing Council takes housing benefit fraud very seriously and will pursue all cases of defrauding the public purse.

"Fraudsters make life worse for people in genuine need."

Berenjan will be sentenced on February 5.