Episode 2 Britain on the Fiddle

He's carrying fishing rods on his back.

Yeah, I've got him taped.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with him, is there?

Nope.

He's fit and well, but claiming disability.

Benefit fraud costs the British taxpayer £1.6 billion a year.

My name is Richard Bilton and I've spent the last five years

following benefit fraud investigators...

-WOMAN:

-Ooh.

..and the suspects they're after.

It's disgusting. Treating us like that, I'll never, ever forgive them.

In this episode...

..or the door's going to get forced.

..hunting a gang suspected of claiming benefits here

to fund lives abroad...

'We're about to catch criminals.'

I love it. Absolutely love it.

..a suspect goes to extreme lengths to escape justice.

I suppose it seems as if... she's beaten me.

..and an ex-serviceman fights for his honour.

I've been with this man 41 years and I know he's not dishonest.

That's one place I thought I'd never go - prison.

This programme contains some strong language.

There was one time where he did look up at the camera

and he stared at it for a few seconds.

And you could just imagine what he was thinking.

"Are you watching me?

"Are you watching me?"

The answer to that question, Mr Malam, is...

hell, yeah, we are watching you.

Stoke investigator Burhan Khan is on the biggest case of his career.

His target is suspected of running a benefit scam

that could be costing the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of pounds.

This is the CCTV for Stoke-on-Trent Council.

We've zoomed in on the property in question

to view the movements of our claimant.

For the past few months, Burhan,

who works for the Department of Work and Pensions,

has had this house under surveillance 24 hours a day.

He's been waiting for the owner to return.

Out of the blue, about five days ago,

I get a text message saying his vehicle has been seen

outside the property. He has returned.

This is the man he's been waiting for - Anthony Malam.

He's quite comfortable thinking,

"I'm getting away with this. I can expand my empire."

Thinking of more ways to make money and defraud the government.

Malam says he's unemployed and in poor health.

He's claiming six different benefits from the state.

But Burhan believes Malam is using his benefits

to fund another life abroad, in the Philippines.

How fantastic would it be if you could live in a foreign country

of your choice and get paid money?

And get paid money for living in a foreign country.

I think that's everybody's dream, that is.

But, no, people that are working in this country, paying their taxes,

for them to do that? No chance.

That is not right.

Burhan thinks there could be more to this case.

He believes Malam has a secret identity.

He's using it to hide the fact that he owns this house.

He and three of his friends are claiming housing benefit

to live here that they're not entitled to.

It's quite a sophisticated fraud, this is.

It's not something that's just happened,

it does look as though it's been thought about and planned.

Burhan suspects Malam owns other properties

and could be claiming benefits for these as well.

He's had him under surveillance for the past five days,

but his big case is in danger of unravelling.

This footage was taken yesterday afternoon.

As you can see, our claimant has come out with bags in his hands.

Helps his friend, who we believe to be another claimant.

And off he goes.

It's the last time we saw him driving away from the property,

yesterday afternoon.

And that was it.

Don't know where he's gone, when he's coming back.

And that's put the whole investigation on hold.

He's worried Malam may have returned to the Philippines.

God, this sucks.

In Croydon, investigators are working

on the toughest case they've ever had to deal with.

-Hi, how are you doing?

-Are you all right?

-Good to see you again.

-Welcome to our new building.

Yeah, very smart. Very swish.

'Council investigator Andrea Cordrey

'has already been working on this for years.

'It's putting Andrea and her colleague Zoe Neal

'under enormous pressure.'

-..we meet again.

-Hello, we meet again.

-You all right?

It just feels like we're opening up Pandora's box.

Their problems relate to a case we've been following since 2012.

Their target, Angel Jackson,

was suspected of using false identity to steal housing benefit.

This is just not me.

A search of her home revealed a complex web

of fraud involving multiple identities and huge sums of cash.

£22,000.

I don't know where this money's coming from.

Angel didn't come quietly.

She denied all knowledge of the crime.

She told investigators she'd had a stroke.

This is just pure drama.

Oscar-winning performance.

They thought Angel was about to go on the run,

so she was remanded in custody.

Three years on, and they're still trying to get this case to court.

Where are we now then? What's the latest?

-It's a bit stressful at this time.

-Right.

After a few months of being on remand,

we got a phone call from the prison informing us that she had a stroke.

She's paralysed down one side of the body,

she can't talk properly,

she's in a wheelchair...

-She's on a lot of medication.

-She's on a lot of medication.

-So...

-We've got some issues.

And we could be accused of harassing this sick, disabled woman.

Angel has been released from prison on medical grounds and her case

has been adjourned until the court can determine

if she's fit to stand trial.

There's been a number of hearings at court.

She hasn't turned up to any of them.

The judge has said a number of times that she must attend

the next hearing, or else...

but then she doesn't attend!

Sometimes, she has a hospital appointment,

or she's rushed into hospital on the very day

that she's supposed to be in court.

We've gone round in a big circle, really.

She's not attending because she's sick,

but she's not producing enough good evidence to say

to the court exactly how and why she's sick.

What are your gut feelings about whether this is true

and a genuine condition or whether it's another scam?

Gut feeling is she's faking it.

-I'm with you there.

-Yeah.

-I'm with you there.

We've come across documents to which she has said

she's had a stroke previously.

-Right.

-And when we've checked with the doctor,

they have no record of this.

She's... She's a very, very, very clever person.

The council doesn't have enough people

to put Angel under surveillance,

but they found an opportunity to take a closer look

at how she's living.

So, this afternoon, we're going to go and see

Angel Duffy, Angel Jackson, whoever she is,

and serve her with some papers.

Zoe needs to tell Angel that the council intends to keep hold

of £22,000 found in her flat during her arrest.

This is where she's supposed to be.

She maintains she's too ill, basically, to leave the property.

She's tried to make some fresh claims of benefit from here,

and she has been asking for various care packages from this address,

and she says she has live-in carers.

Wouldn't it be good if she came hopping out of the flat

and went into that taxi car?

Ooh. No, that's not her.

-AUTOMATED VOICE:

-Going up.

-Bit nervous. Bit apprehensive.

You never quite know what you're walking into.

SHE KNOCKS ON DOOR

Who is it?

My name's Zoe Neal, London Borough of Croydon.

Who did you say you are?

ZOE CLEARS HER THROAT

Hello. I need to talk to Angel Jackson.

-Sorry?

-Angel Jackson.

-Yeah, who is this?

-My name's Zoe Neal, London Borough of Croydon.

Hello. You remember me? Yes. Hello.

-Do you remember the cash I seized from your property?

-Yeah...

OK. This paperwork is about that cash.

If I give that paperwork to you?

Your carer. Have you got a carer with you now?

-She's not here.

-She's not here now?

So who's your carer? What's your carer's name?

Pardon?

Ati? And what's her surname?

OK, so you don't know her surname.

And where did you get the carer from?

OK. So which church is that?

-OK.

-Or you'll come here with cameras and just...

OK, right, bye.

Did you hear how her voice changed when she knew it was me at the door?

I think people think that we give up.

And they don't realise we just keep going.

If there's informational evidence, we will find it.

It might take time, but we'll get there in the end.

Because that's what we're paid to do.

Come on.

Proving that someone's faking disability

to claim benefit is hard,

and Gordon Mabon is well-versed in the tricks of the trade.

About 25 years ago, I was just on the beach,

threw a Frisbee and I dived for the Frisbee,

and the way I fell, I just felt my back go.

I just slipped a disc. All it was was a simple slipped disc.

His experience has given him real insight

into the life of those living with permanent disability.

The pain was intolerable,

I couldn't walk 15, 20 metres.

Gordon is also an ex-serviceman

and he carries the scars from that experience, too.

While he was in the Navy,

he damaged his hearing and developed skin cancer.

He gets a disability pension for that from the Ministry of Defence.

Any gardener will tell you there's nothing better

than digging up your own potatoes.

I shouldn't be doing this with a bad back, should I?

We as a country have a lot to be proud of.

As a society, we look after the weak and vulnerable.

For all that he's been through,

Gordon doesn't let his disability hamper his life.

He's put his experience to good use,

because today he works as a benefit fraud investigator.

When people learn that I'm a benefit fraud investigator,

they say one of two things.

Some people go, "Oh, yes, my neighbour..."

Or they will say, "Oh...", backing off straight away.

"Won't talk to you, I'll keep quiet."

He's been an investigator for more than ten years

and specialises in cases involving disability benefits.

I'm more passionate about them because obviously

my health is restricted a little bit,

perhaps no worse than these people are,

yet they see fit to claim benefits they are not entitled to.

One case he's particularly passionate about

involves another ex-serviceman.

HE LAUGHS

David Sutherland has a proud record of serving Queen and country.

He's a former soldier who was injured in the line of duty.

Maureen does all the ornaments in the garden, typical woman's touch.

It's brightens it up, though, doesn't it?

David has been married to Maureen for nearly 40 years.

I met him just after he came back from Ireland.

We went into the local pub where all the soldiers went.

And, erm, they all thought we were the strippers.

So I thought I would buy her a drink.

That was a good way to get free drinks.

The couple planned a comfortable retirement,

but then David was accused of disability benefit fraud.

In our lifetime we never, ever thought

we would experience something like this.

-I have lost all faith with the justice system...

-Yeah.

..what's happened to us.

David's problems stem with a horrific incident

he was involved in over 40 years ago.

The attackers chose their target with considerable care

and with considerable timing.

They had loaded their bomb into a van.

In 1973, the IRA detonated a bomb outside his barracks in Belfast.

People walking around with clothing on fire, you know?

There was blood everywhere.

And...

Two colleagues and a civilian were killed, 30 were injured.

David never fully recovered.

He was medically discharged from the Army 20 years later,

still suffering from his injuries.

When I came out, the Army said,

"We have accepted post-traumatic stress disorder,

"blast injury to both ears.

"renal calyx, left anterior knee pain syndrome."

And it's things that will never go away, I have these things for life.

When I came out of the Army, it was all doom and gloom.

Nobody wanted to know you if you had post-traumatic stress disorder.

Because they associate post-traumatic stress disorder

with somebody who hasn't got all his faculties about him.

As well as his Army pension,

David got an extra benefit because his injuries meant he couldn't work.

But he soon found a job as a police driver.

I will always be grateful to them because they gave me a life back.

But David didn't tell the Army that he was working.

He's now been accused of fraud, by the Army

and the Department of Work and Pensions.

David Sutherland could be your next-door neighbour.

He could be anyone you know, could be a family member.

You wouldn't think when you looked at him

that he would be a benefit cheat.

You look at the level of benefit abuse he committed

over a number of years, you'd be shocked.

Are we going to be forcing entry straight away?

In Stoke, it's the moment Burhan has been waiting for.

We are about to catch criminals.

I love it, absolutely love it.

Anthony Malam, the man at the centre of his big investigation,

has returned.

We will go round to the property, smash the door down,

make loads of noise...

..arrest. Yeah.

Police, can you open the door, please?

The police need to get in quickly

so Malam can't destroy any evidence in the house.

-Sir, the door is going to get forced.

-Yes, yes.

I wish they'd smashed the door down.

BURHAN LAUGHS

Malam is taken into custody and the search of the house begins.

They are looking for proof that Malam and his friends live abroad.

They are also searching for any evidence of his false identity.

Here we have three passports.

Two of them are quite old.

For Mr Malam.

Oh, my God, he's got loads of stamps in there.

Thailand, Philippines...

Two passports prove he is well-travelled,

the third is Australian and it belongs to someone else.

It was found with 400 passport photos.

We don't know who this gentleman is.

We definitely need to make further enquiries on that.

See if this has been used for fraudulent purposes.

Let's see.

They also find evidence that may link Malam to a much bigger fraud.

Just found a list of 40, 45 properties.

They've got different codes next to them -

Upper Normacot Road, Uttoxeter Road.

Jesus. The list goes on. This is very important.

They suspect Malam may have dozens of properties

and could be using them for benefit fraud.

And this list could help track them down.

They now have less than 24 hours to question Malam.

They begin by asking him about his secret identity - Alan Johnson.

But Malam had already told the council that he'd signed

a tenancy agreement with Alan Johnson.

That is true, he's describing himself.

Despite this enormous admission,

Malam refuses to explain anything further, and he's released on bail.

There's so many questions.

This is such a strange set-up they've got.

Things just don't make sense.

Croydon investigator Andrea has hit another hurdle

in the Angel Jackson case.

There's been another delay with bringing this matter to court.

There was a hearing that Miss Jackson was supposed to appear

with her solicitors so that we can get a date

of when they will submit all their papers.

However, this hasn't happened, yet again another delay.

Angel Jackson was reported to have had a stroke while in custody.

She was released, and it's caused lengthy legal delays

which threaten the case ever coming to court.

She's changed legal teams again.

They haven't had the opportunity to meet with her.

I'm really worried at this stage.

The last time an investigator called,

Angel was claiming to be housebound and unable to walk.

Andrea is on her way to the building where Angel lives

to see if she can find out what's going on.

I've got to ensure she doesn't see me at all.

Because this could just jeopardise everything, really.

There is no sign of Angel,

and Andrea is able to work uninterrupted.

She's been told about a section of CCTV of particular interest.

It's got the time as well on the side.

It shows a woman walking through the car park.

A hat is covering her face.

The same woman, wearing the same hat, can be seen using the gym.

Andrea thinks she looks familiar.

Wow.

This was fantastic.

I can say to her because I know who she is.

And the famous tracksuit, I recognised it.

The way she walked, it's so her. This is brilliant.

I feel more relaxed about this case

than I have done for a very long time.

I finally feel like...

we are back in control.

Andrea thinks Angel has been using the car park

rather than the front entrance to avoid being seen.

That's the door she comes out of.

And then...

..she walks around and comes up the ramp.

Through that way.

I will take the evidence we now have to our legal team,

who will present it in the front of the judge, before the judge,

and see where it takes us.

I think that her luck has just changed.

DOG BARKS

Ex-servicemen David Sutherland is fighting to save his good name

after being accused of benefit fraud.

This thing has totally ruined our lives. Totally.

It's totally unfair.

He was getting money from the Army

as a result of injuries he sustained in a bomb blast,

but HE says things started to go wrong after he found a job

as a police driver.

I maintained all the vehicles,

I made sure the station was up and running.

I thought I was getting myself up and about again,

making a life for myself.

I was still receiving unemployability supplement,

but what I didn't realise,

with that supplement you were only allowed to work 16 hours a week.

David Sullivan was an upstanding member of society.

He served his country proudly.

He experienced a bomb blast,

which we can't even imagine what he went through.

However, what he did afterwards is, I find, unacceptable.

The man determined to bring David to justice, Gordon Mabon,

is also an ex-servicemen.

I saw parallels between me and him in many ways.

The fact that we both left the armed forces,

we both had the support from the armed forces when we needed it.

But that's where the parallel ends.

Gordon started investigating David after a tip-off.

He noted he was receiving

an unemployability supplement AND working.

Hiya, Clive, just Gordon again from the Jobcentre...

He told the Army, who stopped David's payments

and started their own investigation.

They said I knowingly knew that I was working 16 hours,

over 16 hours a week. I didn't knowingly know.

He was told before he left the Army he could work on a war pension.

They drummed into me that the most important thing

for me to do when I get out of hospital is to work and stay active.

Gordon has found the Army benefit isn't the only thing

David has been claiming. He was also getting Disability Living Allowance.

On this claim form, it describes his condition as being the following.

He says, "I need crutches due to paralysis down my left side,

"I can only walk 100 metres in 15 minutes,

"and that is seven days a week."

Now, this is a picture of a man who does really

seem to be incapacitated.

David started this claim after he had

a serious car accident that forced him

to leave his job as a police driver.

I've got the letter from the surgeon.

"Mr Sutherland was involved in a serious road traffic accident

"on Friday the 6th of the 9th, '96.

"And in my opinion, he will be wheelchair-bound

"and with no prospect of future employment."

In his opinion, I'd never walk again,

and I wasn't having that.

David was determined to walk again and started an exercise regime.

I've looked online, there's a good one from America.

What these guys do, they rig up certain things

to strengthen up the body and all that.

It strengthens up the left-hand side.

Obviously with this hand, I don't feel anything because it's strong,

but here, I really get a benefit from doing this.

I've got that bench over the side here.

I do that, that is to strengthen my leg up.

I put it here because Maureen wanted it out of the way

because you guys were coming.

I normally have it here. I do what I'm told.

THEY CHUCKLE

Over time, David says his mobility improved.

I set a goal for myself.

And I said, when I can reach 2km, that's it,

I don't want this Disability Living Allowance.

You know? It took me over nine years of sheer determination.

And when I reached that goal,

I actually wrote a letter saying

I no longer required Disability Living Allowance.

"I've reached my goal, thank you very much."

I definitely wrote that letter, and I definitely posted it.

-I

-posted it.

-Sorry?

-I

-posted it.

-You posted it.

I got no reply, so as far as I was concerned,

I had no reply, everything is OK.

Gordon says the DWP never got that letter.

He also says he has evidence that David

was fully fit eight years before he claims he sent it.

Here is a college on the right-hand side here

where David Sutherland was the caretaker.

His responsibility was this whole building.

So he would come down here, work a whole day, 12 to 14 hours,

three days a week. This is the application form here

for his job that he's applying for.

Do you consider yourself to have a disability?

He's ticked no. Further on in the application,

and they ask him why he left that position.

He put RTA, which is the road traffic accident.

And he had now said, "Now fully fit."

This was in 2005.

Gordon had enough evidence to interview David

under caution for fraud.

'Right, what I'm showing you now, David,

'is your application form for Darlington College.

'I wasn't fully fit, but I put "fully fit"

'because I wanted the job.

'The sequences of events, it makes me feel like a criminal,

'but I'm not a criminal, I'm a good person.

'I deliberately...

'made myself the way I am now instead of staying at home,

'sitting in a wheelchair.

'You know yourself, you had to notify us when there

-'is an improvement in your condition.

-And I apologise.

'And you haven't notified us at the right time.'

I said, yeah, I will take my punishment

like a man, hold my hands up.

That admission left David facing charges of stealing £140,000

over a period of 30 years.

If he can't convince the court he made a mistake,

he could be going to jail.

In Stoke, Burhan's investigation into Anthony Malam

has moved forward after a police raid.

One of the things we seized from the property

was an e-mail.

It confirms he was living abroad

and gives an insight into his life in the Philippines.

It kind of describes the sort of person Mr Malam is,

sort of people he's involved with.

"We have considered your future in Angeles

"and for the moment you are safe.

"We will not hurt you, just as long as you behave yourself.

"We already fucked Fegredo up when he went to the UK.

"Be very careful, or else."

Now... "PS - we know about your scam in the UK.

"Our friend is going to fuck you over.

"You live on government hand-outs, you thieving bastard.

"Your time is up. You will be forced to repay

"what you have stolen from the Brit government.

"Arsehole."

And to be fair, that's quite a decent e-mail

because they're actually acknowledging the fact

that what he's doing is wrong, and he shouldn't be doing it.

So far, he thinks he's linked Malam and three others who live

in the Philippines to false benefit claims

totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds.

It's the biggest case of his career,

and he thinks it might be about to get bigger.

We could do with having a team of about eight investigators

on this case.

-Dream on.

-Yeah.

They found a list of 45 addresses in Malam's house.

Burhan thinks they may lead to other properties Malam owns,

which he may be using to commit even more fraud.

'We are going to do some door knocking

'on some of these properties,

'show them some photographs of Mr Malam

'and see if they are recognised at all.'

-Morning.

-Do you know who the landlord is?

Can you describe him?

-You don't recognise any of them at all?

-No.

-Right, that's definitely not Malam.

-No.

Their investigation reveals that Malam DID own the properties,

but he legitimately sold them ten years ago.

That...is what you call a dead-end.

Yeah.

Shit. We are due a break, though, ain't we?

-Doesn't crack itself, Burhan.

-Ah, you're right there.

They now turn their attention to the mysterious passport photos

and bank cards found in Malam's house.

The man they belong to is now dead.

They think he was one of Malam's accomplices

claiming benefits here to fund a life abroad.

But those benefits continued to be paid into his account

after his death.

Right, these are the bank forms for Mr Baker.

You can see the benefits still going in, pension credit still being paid.

On the same day there's a withdrawal of £100.

And up until the day that we arrested Mr Malam,

he was still using Mr Baker's bank account.

Phone records show Malam even called the council

pretending his friend was still alive

so they would keep paying his benefits.

Nothing surprises me in this case now.

It's quite clear that Malam is trying to

defraud the Government at any length.

They decide to bring Malam in for a second interview.

Malam is not talking,

but there are signs that Burhan's investigation

is beginning to rattle him.

Malam's solicitor has been in contact.

And Malam is willing to pay back over £160,000.

Quite strange that he is willing to pay all that money back.

We all believe he is trying to cover something up.

There's something else going on that he does not want us to know about.

By doing this, he thinks that he can get us off his back.

But unfortunately, it doesn't actually work that way.

In Croydon, Andrea is hoping for a breakthrough

in her two-year investigation into Angel Jackson.

Hi, Fran, Andrea here. Just to let you know, she's here.

It's been 16 months since she claimed

to have had a stroke while on remand for benefit fraud.

It's thrown the council's case against her into disarray.

This is the first time she's appeared in court since 2013.

It's good to see her.

I'm so used to coming to court now for this case

and she's never appeared.

Angel claims to be too ill to go to court.

But Andrea has found footage suggesting she is fit and well.

The council's barrister, Francesca Levett,

has been reviewing the new evidence.

She's clearly fit and able, well enough to go to the gym.

But she's here in a wheelchair today,

so I'm minded to bring up the question of withdrawing bail.

-Right.

-What she's displayed so far

-is obviously obstructing the course of justice.

-Yes.

There have now been 18 court hearings

to try and get proof of her disabilities.

She failed to appear at any of them.

The council now wants her held on remand to stop her from

wasting the court's time.

But Angel has no defence team - she fired them.

The judge has to let her go,

she's got four months to get a new team and provide proof

of her disabilities.

The judge was very fair but firm

about the amount of delays that has been caused.

And hopefully we can get this matter concluded

sooner rather than later.

But over the next year and a half,

Angel continues to find countless ways to frustrate the court.

She's now had a memory loss.

She has no memory of who her solicitors are,

or who the prosecution are,

or why we want to speak to her in any case.

Unfortunately, she's withdrawn her consent

to allow access to her medical records.

Something to do.

She's clearly worked out that if she dismisses her legal team,

that that means she can derail the process again.

-She is relentless, she doesn't stop.

-No.

It's shocking.

I've never experienced anything like this before.

The delays are starting to undermine the case.

-You are back to your new job now?

-Started my new job.

-LAUGHING:

-Different office, same story.

Cases, cases.

I am looking forward to having no more sleepless nights

over Angel Jackson.

I'm quite happy to hand it over to you now, Graham!

-Thanks, Andrea.

-OK.

-See you.

Andrea is being transferred to a new job as an investigator

at a government department.

I suppose...

it seems as if she's beaten me.

But you know what, the case doesn't belong to me,

the case belongs to the council.

But the case is now putting Andrea's boss, David Hogan, under pressure.

This is unprecedented.

We've never had a case this big,

this significant, that we've undertaken,

where we've lost a lead officer.

So really, I'm going to have to look at how we pick up the pieces.

And that's not the only problem the team faces.

We risk losing witnesses, you know,

key people that can give key evidence in this case.

We risk our costs escalating to a point

where we consider whether we can

afford them, whether it is still in the public interest

to continue. The risks are considerable.

There's a story behind that.

A Turkish bloke gave it to me.

He says, "If you put this in your garden and light the wick, you know,

"for barbecues and that, it will give you good luck."

It's given me nothing but bad luck!

So I'm going to get a sledgehammer and smash it up.

Former soldier David Sutherland thinks

he's had a pretty unlucky life.

He was caught in an IRA bomb blast

and involved in a serious car accident,

and now faces five counts of

fraudulently claiming disability allowances for his injuries.

I've pleaded guilty to working for over 16 hours a week.

With the DLA, I pleaded guilty to

not informing them properly that I was, eh...

up and running, I was able to work again.

Despite the guilty pleas, the couple remain defiant.

As far as I was concerned,

I was getting a war pension and I was allowed to work.

He's not what they are saying he is.

You know, he's not dishonest.

But they are making him out to be dishonest, and he's not dishonest.

I've been with this man 41 years and I know he's not dishonest.

He made a mistake and, you know,

they've made him suffer for his mistake.

David insists he remains an honourable man

and the Army still has a duty

to provide support for his post-traumatic stress disorder.

That's why he's fighting two of the charges.

If I owe money, I expect to pay it back.

But I don't expect to pay back the money

that I've pleaded not guilty to, because...

how can it be? It's post-traumatic stress disorder.

You know, I won't budge on that.

He could be facing up to five years in prison.

I've got butterflies, to be honest.

You really don't know what's going to happen.

It's the day of the court case.

I believe he is guilty.

Yes, he had this road traffic accident,

but it wasn't just a road traffic accident,

it was a road traffic accident whilst he was working,

when he wasn't supposed to be working.

I think, to be honest, it's just a ploy, if I can use that word,

it's a ploy to get the overpayment, or the charges

under £100,000, to reduce sentencing.

After two days, the jury is sent out to consider its verdict.

I don't know how it's going to go, it could go either way.

I think I'm resigned to not guilty

because I do believe his actions over the last few days

would be convincing to a jury.

Because of the emotion, the emotion side of things

in relation to his bomb blast,

I think that may cloud the issue a little bit.

Majority verdict, mate.

Both counts, 10-2 - fantastic.

I think the jury reached a fair verdict and I'm glad they've seen

Mr Sutherland for what we saw him to be, and he was a complicit liar.

They've released him on bail until the 20th, two weeks' time.

I'm over the moon, I don't know if I can explain it any other way,

but it is great. I am totally, totally buzzing, I really am.

In a fortnight's time,

David will come back to court to find out what will happen to him.

Burhan's investigation into his biggest ever case

has come to a dramatic end.

Prepared statement of Anthony Malam.

"I wish to admit criminal offences that I have committed

"by changing my name from Anthony Malam to Alan Johnson."

During a third interview, he provides a written account

of the fraud.

"In 2008, I lost the majority of my life savings

"in a property development. This venture went wrong

"as a result of an economic downturn and financial crisis at the time.

"I accept I made a very foolish decision to try and recoup

"some of the monies I'd lost,

"by receiving rental income from various tenants,

"in the name of Alan Johnson, that I was not entitled to.

"I am thoroughly ashamed of my actions and totally remorseful."

This confession and a lack of further evidence

brings this investigation to an end.

Malam is the only person charged.

His associates are out of the authorities' reach.

I mean, we tried very, very hard

to get as much information as possible,

to prove or disprove allegations we have.

We've done a full and thorough investigation.

Could more be done? Yes, more could be done.

But you have to...

put a stop on it somewhere.

Malam pleads guilty to nine charges of fraud and pays back £96,000.

A man who's been claiming benefits for years

swiftly pays the entire amount.

Six months later, he is summoned to court for sentencing.

If he actually went to prison,

I would be able to have closure on it.

Yeah, for me, it would be closure.

If he got suspended sentence, a massive fine,

it would still leave it a little bit open.

Because he's pleaded guilty and he has paid back £96,000,

it could mean he won't be sent to jail.

I can hear you, can you hear me?

-'Yes.'

-Right, fantastic.

OK, what do you think Malam got?

'I don't know, I think he might have got a short custodial.'

How long?

-'Six months?'

-Six months.

OK.

He received...32 months custodial.

COLLEAGUE LAUGHS

Bloody hell.

-Yeah.

-Congratulations on you.

-Yeah.

-Well done to us.

-OK, mate, I will speak to you later then.

-No worries.

An unexpected result, and it brings a two-year investigation to an end.

I love doing what I'm doing and it just happens to be my job.

But I'm doing it in my way.

On this occasion, it has worked.

And it's worked beautifully.

This is a really key moment, and I have to say,

I got up and I came to work today with a bit of a skip in my step.

In Croydon, David Hogan and his team

are preparing for something they were beginning

to think would never happen -

Angel's trial.

Finally going to be going to court,

and finally, hopefully, receiving justice for the taxpayer

and for all of the victims in this case.

Zoe Neal isn't quite so optimistic.

I think she will run away.

Which is what I would do if I was her.

It's taken more than four years and 37 court hearings to get here.

Angel has failed to provide any evidence of her disabilities.

She now faces 31 counts of fraud.

Is there anything else you need from me?

Unless you've got eight hours' sleep

-in your bag that you can give me?

-No, no.

'I have to say, I'm very pleased we are here.'

If anything, just so I can clear my dining room

of all of the lever-arch files I have at home on this case!

Although Angel hasn't provided evidence she is unfit for trial,

she is still claiming to be seriously ill.

It's not my place to say whether she genuinely needs a wheelchair or not.

So the court is giving every accommodation

they can to make sure she's comfortable,

that she is able to follow proceedings, and quite right too.

The trial is expected to last for eight weeks, but ten days in,

Angel is accused of undermining the case against her.

We had a witness who was due to give evidence and she telephoned

one of our investigating officers extremely upset,

because her father had been

approached by the defendant with two men,

indicating that this particular witness

was in trouble and that when she came to court

she should not identify the defendant.

It appears Angel is trying to intimidate witnesses.

We are seriously concerned that other witnesses

are going to be approached, and that's backed up

to a certain extent by the fact that some of our

civilian witnesses have registered

a lack of interest in coming to court now.

The alleged incident took place in a nearby pub.

David Hogan is going there to see if it was caught on CCTV.

This could actually turn this case.

If we can show this level of contempt of court,

what I'm really, really hoping

is the court will cancel her bail and remand her.

They are in luck - the pub has caught something on camera.

Across to the right here, in a minute you will see...

the shoulder bag, shopping bag.

She is following.

She goes over to the right here.

-Yeah.

-So she comes up, puts her hand on his shoulder.

It's difficult to see her facially, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-She hangs around the bar for about 15 seconds.

And then she goes back to her seat.

It does show that her mobility is perfectly good.

Absolutely. Well, I would say it's her.

Great, thank you. If we could have copies of this and the footage,

I will serve it on the defence

and give a copy to the judge so he's aware of it.

Angel denies she's the woman in the footage.

But a second witness comes forward with a similar story.

And the judge remands Angel in custody.

Bad day at court for her, I think, for the defendant.

She still insists it's not her that goes to the house,

and it is not... Nothing to do with her.

But two weeks later,

the judge releases Angel so she can meet her defence team.

It's now that Angel makes her most audacious move.

She stops coming to court.

Today, the defendant failed to attend.

Police attended at her home address and could see she had gone,

so they liaised with the concierge there

to have a look at the CCTV footage.

That's her.

The clothes she is wearing are the same as the clothes

she's worn to court.

She's very aware of the CCTV.

So what was noticeable there was that they acknowledged...

The concierge is sitting here.

She might not be in court, but she's busy.

The CCTV shows her apparently clearing out her flat.

So there's two of the bin liners.

And she's not been seen since.

It's just...

-shocking, it really is.

-SHE LAUGHS

It's extremely worrying.

And it's extremely frustrating.

There are risks that this whole trial will collapse

because of her behaviour.

Awful feeling.

Oh, shaking and...

SHE EXHALES

DOG BARKS

Hey.

I'm feeling apprehensive.

But...whatever happens happens.

It's sentencing day for David Sutherland.

He is hoping that the judge will show some sympathy.

You can get a suspended sentence.

You can do community work, but realistically, erm...

The worst thing that can happen to me is him...

-TEARFUL:

-..being sent to jail.

One place I thought I'd never go - prison.

So...

You're shaking as well, aren't you?

No, my hands. What's to be is to be, isn't it?

'I do worry about her, yeah. A lot.'

Thank you. Right, Sky, hey...

Come here.

Eh? You be good.

Might see you. Might.

I would expect David Sutherland is leaving home today,

bringing with him a bag.

Obviously he will be looking at a custodial sentence.

And obviously I'm sure the judge will take into account

his previous good character. But let's be clear here,

his previous good character, to me, means nothing

because his previous good character is undermined

by the number of decades that he's committed the offence for.

He's shown no remorse. He's only sorry he's been caught.

Maureen emerges with her granddaughter.

The judge has sent David to prison.

I had hoped that the judge would sympathise...

with him having post-traumatic stress disorder.

But no, he didn't.

In fact he didn't even believe anything my husband told him.

He has been sentenced today to two years.

He has to serve at least one.

They branded...

branded my husband as a dishonest person.

I just feel shocked.

I just feel as if I want to be on me own...

at the moment.

It's just horrible he has to go through that.

I'm going to go back home, I'm going to take me little dog for a walk.

And gather me thoughts together.

Two weeks after she disappeared, Angel has been arrested.

She was caught at her GP's trying to get a sick note.

One of the most interesting facts,

I think, that came out of her arrest was

that she walked into the GP surgery,

and she walked out to the police car as well.

So any masquerade in relation to her requiring this wheelchair

on a full-time basis really has now fallen by the wayside.

The jury finds her guilty on all counts.

After four years, two strokes, four arrests,

38 court hearings and a cost to the state of nearly £400,000,

Angel Jackson gets the one thing she was trying to avoid -

a lengthy jail sentence.

This is the team, then, this is what it took to get justice?

We have been waiting for this case to come to trial from 2013.

I'm half the lady I was then in size.

We've all got more grey hairs than we wish to account for.

And Angel is in jail.

What more can we say? We are really pleased with that result.

So not only is she now serving seven years in prison,

but she's going to lose all of her assets.

The ratepayers are going to be compensated.

The council have been applauded for bringing the prosecution.

So, I think, if anything, there is a lesson in tenacity and justice.

-Shall we...

-Thanks, everyone.

-..go celebrate?

LAUGHTER

Next week - investigators struggle to bring

a sophisticated fraudster to book.

Her level of deception is beyond my comprehension.

And investigating suspects so disabled

they're getting benefits for life.

I would say it's the worst day of my life.

All I envisaged was prison and the door being slammed.

That thought terrified me.