Man fined for Council Tax fraud and given suspended prison sentence

Mr Ranjit Gill, of Scraptoft Lane, Leicester, fraudulently received £10,028.75 over a six-year, almost seven-year period from the council in an overpayment of Council Tax benefit.

Mr Gill, who appeared at Leicester Magistrates Court on 8 June 2023 for sentencing, had previously pleaded guilty to wrongfully submitting a claim for Council Tax.

He was given a two-year suspended sentence order. The prison sentence of three months was reduced to two months because of his guilty plea and he was fined £2,495.72 (made up of the victim surcharge, the council’s full legal and fraud investigation costs). In closing the judge said to Mr Gill that he defrauded by applying for a reduction he was not entitled to.

Cllr Mark Graves, Harborough District Council’s Cabinet lead for Revenue and Benefits, said: “Our Council Tax reduction scheme is in place for people who generally need extra support, such as those on low incomes and people that are retired. This conviction should serve as a warning to others prepared to take advantage of it.”

For more information about Council Tax visit www.harborough.gov.uk/council-tax