A benefits fraudster who used a false identity to claim over £160,000 sobbed in court and begged for mercy as he was jailed for 42 months. Adam Mejri, 47, wept in the dock at Southwark Crown Court on Friday as he was sentenced for a series of fraudulent claims, including attempting to access a compensation fund for victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.
Fraudulent claims and fake identity
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed that Mejri had taken more than £160,000 in benefits and council support. This included over £52,000 in fraudulent employment support allowance (ESA) claims, approximately £107,000 in housing benefit claims, and £4,000 in local council tax support.
Prosecutors revealed that Mejri repeatedly attempted to claim a £5,000 support fund intended for residents affected by the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire. In March 2018, he visited the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council offices pretending to be the tenant of an unoccupied flat near the tower. The actual tenant had left the UK, the court was told.
Attempt to exploit Grenfell tragedy
Earlier that year, Metropolitan Police officers had visited the property and arrested two illegal immigrants found living there. The flat was then secured for council access only. Mejri presented identification documents in the tenant's name, and the council removed a metal security door blocking the flat, prosecutors explained.
He then persistently tried to obtain the compensation payment, which the tenant was eligible for. However, officials had doubts about his identity, and the money was never paid out, the court heard. Mejri also redirected the former tenant's mail to different addresses and began sub-letting the flat for £1,200 per month, prosecutors added.
Further fraud and sentencing
In July 2019, he used the same bogus identity to claim universal credit but failed to attend Jobcentre appointments, claiming he was physically and mentally ill and unable to work. However, when officers examined his Facebook profile, the missed appointments matched periods when he was in Saudi Arabia, the court was told.
The prosecution stated that Mejri obtained ESA and housing benefit while simultaneously earning money by subletting two additional properties in Westminster. He had failed to disclose the earnings to Westminster Council. Mejri admitted guilt to two counts of fraud and two counts of dishonestly failing to notify a change in circumstances.
His Honour Judge Baumgartner described Mejri as a "thoroughly dishonest person who preyed upon the innocence and misfortune of others." Minister for Transformation Andrew Western commented: "This was a shocking and calculated fraud from a brazen criminal who stole a victim's identity, exploited public support systems and even tried to profit from the tragedy of Grenfell." Senior crown prosecutor Richard Powell remarked: "Mejri's selfish actions took tens of thousands of pounds away from those who required genuine support and financial help."
