A landlord couple have been convicted of a �1 million benefit fraud stretching over 20 years.

Emmanuel Bay, 68, and Nancy Bay, 67, of Sudbourne Road, Brixton (pictured), were found guilty of 21 offences between 1999 and 2018 under the Theft Act, Fraud Act and Forgery and Counterfeiting Act.

Their crimes relate to fraudulent Direct Payments claims in the name of Emmanuel, who failed to tell Lambeth Council that he had recovered from a previous illness and continued to claim support.

He also failed to declare the purchase of three properties in Brixton, each of which would have removed his entitlement to support. Nancy Bay bought two properties during the period.

Fraud

Emmanuel Bay received numerous Direct Payments that he was not entitled to along with payments from the Independent Living Fund and Department for Work and Pensions as a result of his fraudulent claims and failure to declare his recovery, adding up to �1 million.

A third co-defendant, Bruno Matudi, 68, of Libra Road, Plaistow, was convicted of two Fraud Act offences during the four-week trial at Inner London Crown Court.

The fraud came to light when council officers from adult social care became suspicious when visiting Bay to conduct a regular review of his claim, and referred the matter to the council's counter fraud team.

Sentencing will take place on 30th March and Lambeth investigators will now progress action under the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover any losses and proceeds of crime from assets held by the couple.