Jail for social care payments fraud

A fraudster has been sentenced for claiming over £37,000 from his deceased mother.

Ulisses Spencer de Souza Montiero, from Haringey, has been sentenced to 30 months in jail for social care fraud by continuing to receive direct payments for his mother’s care but failing to declare that she had passed away in September 2014.

He continued to collect the payments of his mother Mrs Spencer, whom he resided with, until February 2016 – totalling to an overpayment of £37,549.28.

Haringey’s Corporate Fraud team became aware of the situation when working with social workers to review the direct payments sent to Mrs Spencer.

Mr Montiero sought to mislead the council by saying his mother was alive and on holiday in Portugal with his sister, even though the mother had been deceased for around 17 months.

Councillor Joseph Ejiofor, leader of Haringey Council, said: “Social care payments are a vital support for some of our most vulnerable residents – those who commit fraud are taking vital funds away from people who need them most. Our officers are working tirelessly to ensure every penny in this borough is being spent properly.”

During an unannounced home visit to Mr Montiero, a neighbour advised the Corporate Fraud team that they believed Mrs Spencer had passed away.

The fraudster appeared at the Old Bailey on August 30, after being convicted at an earlier trial at Highbury Magistrates Court in July 2019.

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