Grenfell fraudsters who claimed they lived in the tower netted £775k

BY JULIA  GREGORY
yann@slpmedia.co.uk

Fraudsters claiming to live in Grenfell Tower or affected by the disaster have conned the local
authority and other agencies out of at least £775,000 – according to latest findings.

Just over £24,000 has been recovered, with a further £97,000 paid back as compensation.

The figures were revealed last week by the deputy leader for Kensington and Chelsea council Kim Taylor-Smith, who has responsibility for Grenfell.

He was responding to a question from Labour’s Judith Blakeman who is a ward councillor for Notting Dale, who wanted to find out how much money had been “wasted”.

She said some people who were bereaved by the 2017 fire had given warnings when they became aware of potential fraudsters trying to benefit from the disaster or cash in on the names of people who died.

She said: “In at least two cases bereaved family members advised the council that people were claiming money fraudulently.”

Councillor Taylor-Smith said: “How distressing people benefiting from Grenfell by fraud is to both the bereaved and survivors, us in the council and members of the community.”

He said there have been 16 prosecutions so far and some fraudsters got prison sentences ranging from a year and nine months to six years and eight months.

They were paid £775,000 between them before their fraud was detected.

Mr Taylor-Smith said the Met have recovered £24,869 through proceeds of crime legislation and investigation.

“There’s been additional compensation orders that have been awarded that’s been recovered subsequently – a further £97,000 which has been granted by the court.”

He said the cash the council recovered has gone back into the Grenfell budget to support the bereaved and survivors of the catastrophic fire which claimed the lives of 72 people.

Councillor Blakeman wanted to know if potential fraudsters were supported while under investigation.

Cllr Taylor-Smith said the council works “very closely” with the police and “we moderate our support” while police carry out any enquiries.

The latest fraudster to be convicted falsely told authorities he lived with a genuine victim of the fire and claimed £75,225 in housing, services and financial support.

Daniel Steventon, 37, from Kilburn, was handed a three and a half year prison sentence at Isleworth Crown Court last month.

Another fraudster was given £103,000 in funds meant to help the survivors after claiming he lived with a family of five who all died in the Tower, but was jailed for six years when his con was uncovered.

And Kensington and Chelsea council finance manager, Jenny McDonagh, 39, who joined the authority after the fire to help survivors, was jailed after stealing nearly £62,000 of cash intended for victims of the disaster.