0:00:03 > 0:00:05He's carrying fishing rods on his back.
0:00:05 > 0:00:06Yeah, I've got him, Deb.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09There's absolutely nothing wrong with him,
0:00:09 > 0:00:11- is there?- No.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14He's fit and well, but claiming disability.
0:00:14 > 0:00:20Benefit fraud costs the British taxpayer £1.6 billion a year.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24My name is Richard Bilton and I've spent the last five years following
0:00:24 > 0:00:26benefit fraud investigators...
0:00:30 > 0:00:32Ooh!
0:00:32 > 0:00:34..and the people they're after.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38All I envisaged was prison and the door being slammed.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41In this episode...
0:00:41 > 0:00:46She's wearing a blue puffer jacket with a brown handbag.
0:00:46 > 0:00:51Her level of deception, it's beyond my comprehension.
0:00:51 > 0:00:56..investigators struggle to bring a sophisticated fraudster to book...
0:00:59 > 0:01:02Cannabis factory upstairs.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05..a woman fights for her home and reputation...
0:01:05 > 0:01:07I'm not a wrong 'un, I'm not a cannabis grower,
0:01:07 > 0:01:10I'm not all this drug person they think I'm made out to be.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13..and investigating suspects so disabled,
0:01:13 > 0:01:15they're getting benefits for life.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17His nickname's Sick Note.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20It's a well-known fact that he's been fiddling.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28Action.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31This is Tania Amisi.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36She's stylish...
0:01:37 > 0:01:38..has expensive tastes...
0:01:40 > 0:01:42..and travels the world.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48She is also thought to be funding it
0:01:48 > 0:01:52with benefits totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00'I've come to meet the investigators who are trying to catch her - '
0:02:00 > 0:02:02- Hi, Richard.- How you doing?
0:02:02 > 0:02:06'Mo Stanislas and undercover officer Helen.'
0:02:06 > 0:02:07LIFT: Doors opening.
0:02:07 > 0:02:12Mo and Helen specialise in investigating high-value
0:02:12 > 0:02:16fraud cases, but the woman they're after is brazen and smart.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21This is her company - fake company - Le Chateau D'or.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27- That's her.- That's her there?- Yeah.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31Tania Amisi is a single mum who works on a minimum wage
0:02:31 > 0:02:33in a betting shop.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35At least that's what she claimed.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39And according to this website, she's got a fashion house.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Which is selling exclusive designer wear.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44Very expensive prices, so it shows that she's not being genuine
0:02:44 > 0:02:47with the information she's given.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51Tania's life, which they found played out over the internet,
0:02:51 > 0:02:54suggests glamour and wealth, but it's a lie.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56She's a crook.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59They started investigating her after she was arrested for
0:02:59 > 0:03:02trying to cash false cheques.
0:03:02 > 0:03:07The police found fake IDs and bank statements in her flat that showed
0:03:07 > 0:03:12large amounts of money being paid into them by councils across London.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16So within a few days of each other we've got Westminster Council paying
0:03:16 > 0:03:21housing benefit, London Borough of Brent, Hackney starts paying her.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23They're big sums, aren't they?
0:03:23 > 0:03:27They're massive amounts. That's over £3,500 within a couple of days of
0:03:27 > 0:03:30- each other.- We tend to do multiple ID frauds,
0:03:30 > 0:03:34but hers is off the scale in the fact that she's manipulated
0:03:34 > 0:03:38so many different local authorities and they're unaware of it.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42How much do you think she's taken, just from looking at the file?
0:03:43 > 0:03:4420,000, 30,000.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46And that's only a snapshot.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49A snapshot of a couple of months here in 2010.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53When we started to look further into it, we realised that they were live,
0:03:53 > 0:03:57we've got live benefit claims running at this moment in time.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01They found three housing benefit claims she's currently making
0:04:01 > 0:04:05in boroughs across London. It's evidence of a crime,
0:04:05 > 0:04:08but they need to link her to the bank accounts.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10RADIO CRACKLES
0:04:10 > 0:04:14The plan now is to launch an undercover surveillance operation.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22Housing is a national problem.
0:04:22 > 0:04:261.2 million people are on the waiting list for council houses.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33On the outskirts of London, Havering Council has launched a crackdown.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39Investigators already have a woman in their sights.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Hello. Come in.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44Meet Julie Smith.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47- Shut the door.- She earns a living as a gardener.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52- This is my dad.- Hello there.
0:04:52 > 0:04:53I'm living with Mum and Dad.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55She's living with us.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58Shall I put it the proper way? She's poncing.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00HE LAUGHS
0:05:00 > 0:05:02My mum's always cooked for everyone.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04Whoever comes round, she's always got a spare dinner,
0:05:04 > 0:05:08- haven't you, Mum?- Yeah. Even if they want it or not.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10THEY LAUGH
0:05:11 > 0:05:13Julie moved in with her parents
0:05:13 > 0:05:16after she came under investigation for fraud.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20I think I just needed to show you my side of the story to show you
0:05:20 > 0:05:23that I'm not a wrong 'un, I'm just a normal person.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25The allegations are serious.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27She could end up doing time.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30I don't want to get put in prison,
0:05:30 > 0:05:33you know. I don't really feel like I've done anything wrong.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35I really don't feel like I've done anything wrong.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37You haven't. She hasn't.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39Well, benefit fraud should never enter her mind.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41Cos if Julie wants anything,
0:05:41 > 0:05:43she comes to us like the rest of the kids do.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46It's just the way they've said it's happened,
0:05:46 > 0:05:48and OK, I can see from their side,
0:05:48 > 0:05:50but it's not how it happened.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52None of it's happened like that.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55She's been shit on from a great height by numpties.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Morning, everybody. We're a little bit restrained for time.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07The warrant is in relation to benefit and housing fraud.
0:06:07 > 0:06:12It all started a year ago when Havering Council organised a raid on
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Julie's boyfriend's house.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17And then if they're not there, I've got her telephone number,
0:06:17 > 0:06:21so we could call her to come back instead of putting the door in.
0:06:21 > 0:06:22Is that all right?
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Ruth Kirby and Leigh Stevens
0:06:24 > 0:06:26are fraud investigators from Havering.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28They're in charge of the case.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31Tell me what your suspicions are, then.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34My suspicions are that we're paying housing benefit for a property
0:06:34 > 0:06:36that Miss Smith's not living in.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40This is where Julie Smith is supposed to live -
0:06:40 > 0:06:44a council flat in Romford. But investigators think
0:06:44 > 0:06:47she really lives 60 miles away with her boyfriend.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50They're going to raid both properties.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54Is there any defendable reason why you could have two properties?
0:06:54 > 0:06:56No. She's made a claim for housing benefit in Romford
0:06:56 > 0:06:59and that's where she should be living.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05First stop, it's her boyfriend's, where they think she's now living.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08It's a lot of cops, isn't it?
0:07:08 > 0:07:10It's a lot of cops.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14We're hoping to find her there and then, you know,
0:07:14 > 0:07:18see that she actually lives in the house by looking at, you know,
0:07:18 > 0:07:20the set-up of the house. If all her clothes are there
0:07:20 > 0:07:23and her correspondence, that they're living together as a couple.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31Well, it looks like there's someone in.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37(Do we go in there?)
0:07:39 > 0:07:41Thank you.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43OK, thanks very much.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45Hello. Are you Julie Smith?
0:07:45 > 0:07:46- Yeah.- Yeah, hello. I'm Ruth
0:07:46 > 0:07:49and I work for the housing benefit investigations team.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52We're here today because you're not residing at the property
0:07:52 > 0:07:53that you're claiming benefit for.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57This is the moment Julie Smith first realises she's in trouble.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00What we just want you to give us is any of your correspondence,
0:08:00 > 0:08:03like your driving licence, your passport,
0:08:03 > 0:08:04your bank statements.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07I also understand that you put in a Right to Buy application
0:08:07 > 0:08:09- to buy that property? - Yeah, I am at the moment.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11OK. Well, you're obviously not residing there.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15- I do reside there, yeah. - Do you?- Yeah, I stay here as well.
0:08:15 > 0:08:16All right, OK.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19Well, could you just get your correspondence for us now then?
0:08:19 > 0:08:21I don't know if I've got anything like that.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26Where's all your bank statements? Where are they kept?
0:08:26 > 0:08:27DOG BARKS
0:08:27 > 0:08:30Erm, Santander...
0:08:32 > 0:08:35They came early in the morning. It was just a shock.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38I couldn't make out what they were talking about and where they were
0:08:38 > 0:08:41getting their information from. What are you looking for?
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Well, just stuff that's addressed to you, really, because you're not
0:08:44 > 0:08:47residing at the property that housing benefit's being paid on.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49This is your home, isn't it?
0:08:49 > 0:08:52- No.- OK.- This is Neil's home. - All right, then.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57It was a shock, yes, especially at Neil's house because Neil's,
0:08:57 > 0:09:00you know, he's not, he's so straight, isn't he?
0:09:00 > 0:09:02- He's not like that. - HER FATHER:- Soft jelly, isn't he?
0:09:02 > 0:09:05- Yeah.- Frightened the life out of you, didn't it?
0:09:05 > 0:09:07Neil had a little bit of weed there.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10- Sergeant.- Sarge.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14They've found a cannabis, cannabis plants upstairs.
0:09:14 > 0:09:15Cannabis factory upstairs.
0:09:15 > 0:09:20Julie's boyfriend has a bit more than housing benefit to explain.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29Nearly one in 20 of the British population
0:09:29 > 0:09:31claim disability benefits.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Most are genuine,
0:09:34 > 0:09:38but finding the fraudsters requires specialist investigators.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44In Staffordshire, Lisa Prince is the lead investigator
0:09:44 > 0:09:49tackling those suspected of exaggerating their disabilities.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52The public have seen these types of cases on TV,
0:09:52 > 0:09:54particularly with the surveillance.
0:09:54 > 0:09:59This is our equipment cupboard where we keep all the covert cameras.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01Bit like James Bond, 007.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05It's the old cliche, isn't it? The camera never lies.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09She's looking at some extreme cases of people who are supposed to be
0:10:09 > 0:10:13so disabled, they've been awarded benefits for life.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15It's where there is no review of the benefit.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18Those are the people that the Department view
0:10:18 > 0:10:19would never get better.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Like this man, Steven "Buster" Fitzpatrick.
0:10:22 > 0:10:27He says he's got arthritis so bad that he can't grip a pen
0:10:27 > 0:10:29and needs 24-7 care.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32They've had a report on the fraud hotline
0:10:32 > 0:10:34that he's a local fishing champion.
0:10:34 > 0:10:39A tip-off is one thing, but proving it, quite another.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41It'll need an undercover sting.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48Do you know what, I'm going to get underneath.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51I'm not suited and booted, I'm afraid.
0:10:51 > 0:10:52Hello.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56Lisa's got wind that Buster will be
0:10:56 > 0:11:01taking part in a fishing competition here this weekend.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03What we'll do, we'll pick him up from the car park,
0:11:03 > 0:11:05hopefully get some footage
0:11:05 > 0:11:07carrying his fishing equipment along this path.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10Now, Buster claims he's wheelchair-bound.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13They want to see how he'll navigate this path.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15It's useful having that building opposite.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17We can use that as cover.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19Nobody will know that we're here on the day.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21We'll be completely covert.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25Just need for him to make sure he turns up, so fingers crossed.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35It's the day of the fishing competition.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38Lisa's sent investigators Donna and Mark
0:11:38 > 0:11:40to stake out Buster's home address.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43- BLEEP- hell!- Speed bumps.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45That wasn't a bump, that was like a person!
0:11:45 > 0:11:47PHONE RINGS
0:11:49 > 0:11:52- LISA:- You all right?
0:11:52 > 0:11:57Hiya. Lise, he's just opening his curtains, love.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59Oh, is he?
0:12:00 > 0:12:04Seven in the morning and it looks like their target is getting ready
0:12:04 > 0:12:07- to go fishing. - He's standing holding his back,
0:12:07 > 0:12:09talking to his mate who's come over
0:12:09 > 0:12:12with all his fishing gear on a trolley.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15The fact that he's actually coming out to fish...
0:12:15 > 0:12:19- What a start.- Just hope they don't decide to go to another venue.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21It's going to be interesting today to see
0:12:21 > 0:12:25what he's actually capable of doing himself.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29The team meet up at the fishing pond and get into position.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38That's the pond where they'll be fishing, so he's got to walk down,
0:12:38 > 0:12:41or get his wheelchair down this path here.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44This is perfect, though, isn't it?
0:12:44 > 0:12:47I didn't realise we were going to be as close as this.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51Ooh, you make a lovely window cleaner!
0:12:53 > 0:12:58Donna's going to film hopefully from inside her car of him arriving.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00Just wait for him to turn up now.
0:13:09 > 0:13:10They're here.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12And they are out, out, out.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16He's wearing a green and white plaid shirt.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18Maybe a beige baseball cap.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26He's carrying fishing rods on his back.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28Yeah, I've got him, Deb. And his trolley.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30Yeah, I've got him.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32Unaided.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36Oh, he's getting his rod out.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38Sorry?!
0:13:38 > 0:13:39THEY SNIGGER
0:13:41 > 0:13:44What's he doing with that? He's got no grip.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48There's absolutely nothing wrong with him, is there?
0:13:48 > 0:13:51They've seen him fishing, but to get a conviction,
0:13:51 > 0:13:54they need to prove how long he's been at it.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Back with the Havering investigators,
0:13:59 > 0:14:03the search for evidence of Julie Smith's suspected
0:14:03 > 0:14:06housing benefit fraud has uncovered another crime.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08There's probably about 12 plants there,
0:14:08 > 0:14:11but to me they look like they are in full bloom
0:14:11 > 0:14:14and probably ready for harvest. It's a bonus for us.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18Judging from what he's telling me,
0:14:18 > 0:14:21and I've got no reason to disbelieve him at the moment,
0:14:21 > 0:14:23but he says it's for his personal use.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26Oh, right, because he's got arthritis, hasn't he? Yeah.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28All I'm trying to do is save myself a bit of bloody money.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32I thought I'd have a go myself. What a div I am.
0:14:32 > 0:14:33HE LAUGHS
0:14:33 > 0:14:36- You'll come across then, mate? - Yeah, ready to go, yeah.
0:14:36 > 0:14:41Julie and her boyfriend are arrested for suspected drug offences,
0:14:41 > 0:14:45but the search for evidence to prove she's living here continues.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51Why would all this correspondence
0:14:51 > 0:14:53going back to 2003 be in this address?
0:14:56 > 0:15:01She was adamant that she just stays here, it's her boyfriend's place,
0:15:01 > 0:15:03but it looks like it's her home.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08We've just got to wait for our colleagues to find out what they see
0:15:08 > 0:15:10at the claim address, so...
0:15:12 > 0:15:17In Romford, another team is arriving at Julie's council flat.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21This is where she's suppose to be living and where she's getting
0:15:21 > 0:15:26housing benefit, but investigators think she's been renting it out.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28That's another criminal offence.
0:15:28 > 0:15:29KNOCKING
0:15:29 > 0:15:31It's the police. Open the door.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35Hi, mate. You all right?
0:15:36 > 0:15:39This is the man they think she's renting it to.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42He's a painter and decorator, and, coincidentally,
0:15:42 > 0:15:45he's wanted by the police for a separate offence.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49You've had a good party here last night by the look of it.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51- Yeah, I know.- How long have you been living here for?
0:15:51 > 0:15:53I don't...
0:15:53 > 0:15:57On and off, a while.
0:15:57 > 0:15:58Whose flat is it? Do you know?
0:15:58 > 0:16:00Julie Smith's.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04What's the arrangement with you being here and not her?
0:16:04 > 0:16:09She, erm, she is here, but she stays with her boyfriend,
0:16:09 > 0:16:10or round her mum's and that.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13The investigators are looking for evidence
0:16:13 > 0:16:15that Julie spends time here.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17Well, there's nothing of hers in here.
0:16:17 > 0:16:18This is all male stuff in here.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26No indication that a female is living here.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31No clothes, no personal belongings,
0:16:31 > 0:16:35nothing at all. No toothbrush, no deodorant.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41But they find something that rings alarm bells.
0:16:42 > 0:16:43Building stuff, is it?
0:16:47 > 0:16:51- There.- You'll see here. - All these lights.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53And a transformer.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56It's a nice link between the two addresses for us.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59As well as housing benefit fraud,
0:16:59 > 0:17:03they suspect the council flat is also being used as a cannabis farm.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05We've found...
0:17:05 > 0:17:09the light holders they use when they're growing cannabis.
0:17:10 > 0:17:15- Oh, right.- They may well have been going to do the same thing here.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17I'll let the sergeant know, then.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25I'm serving a formal notice to quit.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28OK, so she's got a month to vacate the property,
0:17:28 > 0:17:33and anybody else that's living here, which will include yourself. OK?
0:17:36 > 0:17:39Anyway, job well done, though, mate, weren't it?
0:17:39 > 0:17:43The man arrested at the flat is never charged,
0:17:43 > 0:17:46but Julie is left with a lot of explaining to do.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52The council tried to sew it up to make you look bad and they done it.
0:17:52 > 0:17:53It did, though, it did look bad.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56- Well, of course it did. - 'Course it looked horrible because
0:17:56 > 0:17:59when I went up there I thought, "Oh, my God, how embarrassing," you know?
0:17:59 > 0:18:02I didn't go to Neil's and leave it like that.
0:18:02 > 0:18:07Julie says there's an explanation for everything the council saw.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10The thing is the flat,
0:18:10 > 0:18:13to me, that was her little castle.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16- She loved it.- It was a lovely flat.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19It's always been my home, always been my home.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24This was my flat before I started
0:18:24 > 0:18:27having the wardrobe ripped out in the bedroom
0:18:27 > 0:18:31and everything was taken out of there and the state it was in,
0:18:31 > 0:18:34what the fraud investigators saw,
0:18:34 > 0:18:37is because it was being decorated.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41Julie says the man found at the flat was decorating it for her.
0:18:42 > 0:18:46This is Paul decorating the bedroom for me in June.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50This was before the council even came to my flat.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54You know, I didn't have to pay him.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57He's my son's ex-girlfriend's uncle and he's just been
0:18:57 > 0:19:01a long-term friend for ages. We didn't have pay him.
0:19:01 > 0:19:02I didn't have to pay him nothing.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04He just, if he wanted to stay there..
0:19:04 > 0:19:08- He was a dosser, really, wasn't he? - He had no fixed abode.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12He plastered every room, he put new skirtings, he knocked wardrobes out,
0:19:12 > 0:19:16he just did everything. New covings.
0:19:16 > 0:19:17Yeah, he was there quite a while,
0:19:17 > 0:19:20but then there was a lot of work to do.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23But Julie admits she wasn't living
0:19:23 > 0:19:27at her flat when the council raided it.
0:19:27 > 0:19:33I moved out in May 2014...
0:19:35 > 0:19:39..because my ex-partner had escaped from prison
0:19:39 > 0:19:44and he knew where I lived and I knew he would come looking for me.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47He's beaten me up, he's stabbed my dog,
0:19:47 > 0:19:50he's had my son around the throat, stole off of us.
0:19:50 > 0:19:55He's just a bad one and, you know, I've had a lot of run-ins with him.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59That's why nothing of mine was in the flat, because he's a burglar.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01He would've broke in, he would probably have known
0:20:01 > 0:20:03I was still there and waited about for me.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05So I got everything out the flat
0:20:05 > 0:20:08that I thought he would notice was mine.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11All my paperwork, most of my clothes,
0:20:11 > 0:20:15and it worked out fine for me anyway because the men
0:20:15 > 0:20:18were in doing the kitchen, so I was out of the way.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21It is a defence Julie hopes will persuade the council
0:20:21 > 0:20:24that she hasn't done anything wrong.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27Well, I'm looking forward to what the explanation is, basically.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31I don't know what she's going to say. It's not being used properly,
0:20:31 > 0:20:35so you're not allowed to grow drugs in council properties.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38And we'd like to get the money back that she's had
0:20:38 > 0:20:42in housing benefit for all the time that she's not lived there.
0:20:42 > 0:20:43With the evidence they have,
0:20:43 > 0:20:47Havering is determined to prosecute Julie.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59Yeah, could all units just take up the original plot position?
0:20:59 > 0:21:01RADIO CHATTER
0:21:01 > 0:21:05In London, Mo and Helen have started
0:21:05 > 0:21:07a major surveillance operation.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14Their target, a sophisticated fraudster Tania Amisi,
0:21:14 > 0:21:18has amassed 13 fraudulent housing benefit claims
0:21:18 > 0:21:20using false identities.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23They want to see what else she's been up to.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28Tania's doing pretty well for herself.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32She lives in Chelsea, one of the most expensive areas in the country.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36Yes, yes, back to you, visual.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40The team has cancelled most of her housing benefit claims
0:21:40 > 0:21:43and this morning one of the few councils she's still
0:21:43 > 0:21:47getting money from has called her in for a meeting.
0:21:47 > 0:21:52So we have a feeling that she may turn up in order to get paid.
0:21:52 > 0:21:53Erm, and if she doesn't,
0:21:53 > 0:21:56my feeling is that she's got other claims
0:21:56 > 0:22:00that we haven't located as yet.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03- MAN ON RADIO:- Stand by, stand by, stand by.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05Female, possibly subject one.
0:22:05 > 0:22:06She came out of the address
0:22:06 > 0:22:10with a young child.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14She's wearing a blue puffer jacket with a brown handbag.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20Heading towards Lots Road.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22Away, away from the stand.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25And through lights on green.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35Yeah, just to confirm that Lima Two is now in the vicinity.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39Yes, yes.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41Perfect view.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44She drops her child off at school,
0:22:44 > 0:22:47but instead of going to the council for her meeting,
0:22:47 > 0:22:50she goes back home and stays there.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56She must have something else up her sleeve.
0:22:58 > 0:23:03The local authority investigator benefit assessor has called her
0:23:03 > 0:23:06and when she asked to speak to Tanya Westwood,
0:23:06 > 0:23:09the person on the phone line has turned round and said, "Who?"
0:23:09 > 0:23:11And then she said, "Oh, yes."
0:23:11 > 0:23:14And then the phone has gone off, so the assessor's called,
0:23:14 > 0:23:18made an attempt to call her again and it's gone to answering machine.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21So we'll just sit tight and wait to see what happens.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Yes, yes. 01 has the visual.
0:23:26 > 0:23:31Over the next three days they're going to try to find out if she has
0:23:31 > 0:23:34any accomplices and see what bank cards she uses
0:23:34 > 0:23:38in an attempt to link her to the fraudulent claims.
0:23:38 > 0:23:43Yeah, she's crossing the road towards...to go shopping.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45The loss of her housing benefits
0:23:45 > 0:23:47doesn't seem to have affected her much.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51- WOMAN ON RADIO:- She is on the upper level in Nando's.
0:23:56 > 0:24:01She's at a bus stand across the road from Harrods.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07Please don't tell me she's going to Harrods.
0:24:07 > 0:24:08She's going to Harrods.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12She's shopping in Harrods.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14SHE CHUCKLES
0:24:23 > 0:24:26She's got a few bags, her son's got a bag.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30They've been, erm... having a great time.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33In, in, in to the cinema.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35The surveillance links Tanya
0:24:35 > 0:24:38to the bank accounts being used for fraud.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42The investigation also throws up another bank account
0:24:42 > 0:24:44they weren't aware of.
0:24:47 > 0:24:52This is a fraction of Tanya Westwood,
0:24:52 > 0:24:56Tania Amisi's claims that we've got from some of
0:24:56 > 0:24:58the local authorities in London.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02It's three months on and they've now built up a fuller picture of
0:25:02 > 0:25:04how Tania operates.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08Whilst we were out on surveillance she had actually had a live claim in
0:25:08 > 0:25:11the borough of Newham.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14It transpired that she took out a tenancy agreement
0:25:14 > 0:25:16with a private housing association.
0:25:16 > 0:25:21She then further sublet flats to three other individuals,
0:25:21 > 0:25:24took deposits from them and they were also paying her
0:25:24 > 0:25:27just over £500 a month rent. Each of them.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30On top of that, she went back to Newham Council
0:25:30 > 0:25:32and claimed housing benefit.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36By stealing the housing benefit and then subletting the flat,
0:25:36 > 0:25:40she was making up to £3,000 a month on a single property.
0:25:42 > 0:25:47It's a scam she repeats over and over and always ends the same way.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49The tenants get thrown out.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52It's become obvious that this is her thing,
0:25:52 > 0:25:56this is her MO, and this is what she does because it's easy money.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59She obviously don't care about people's lives.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01She wrecks people's lives, as long as her life is OK.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03She uses it to buy designer clothes
0:26:03 > 0:26:07and she uses it to show off on the internet. You know what?
0:26:07 > 0:26:09I'm looking forward to getting her arrested.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12It will be just nice to say that we've shut you down
0:26:12 > 0:26:14and you can't do this any more, and you know,
0:26:14 > 0:26:17we're not going to allow you to get away with it.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20With a mountain of evidence against her,
0:26:20 > 0:26:24the plan is to arrest Tania Amisi in the next few days.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32In Staffordshire, the investigation
0:26:32 > 0:26:36into fisherman Steven "Buster" Fitzpatrick continues.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38It's a well-known fact
0:26:38 > 0:26:40that he's been fiddling.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42Trips to local fishing ponds
0:26:42 > 0:26:45have given her an insight into the man she's following.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47His nickname's Sick Note,
0:26:47 > 0:26:52so I think they all know that he's claiming some sort of benefits.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55I think it is common knowledge, to be honest.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58And Buster is such a skilled fisherman,
0:26:58 > 0:27:00he's even made the local paper.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02Ooh, that was interesting.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06The fishing competition that was on Sunday, he actually won it, again,
0:27:06 > 0:27:08our man. There we go.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10"Last weekend where first place went to Buster Fitzpatrick.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12"His next match is this Sunday."
0:27:12 > 0:27:16The question is how long he's been committing fraud,
0:27:16 > 0:27:19and the newspaper report has given her an idea.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22- Can you smell the history? - Yeah, it's lovely.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24So what years are you looking for?
0:27:24 > 0:27:27Probably from 2005 onwards.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30Lisa's come to the local paper to see if she can find
0:27:30 > 0:27:32more old fishing reports.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35Go on, then, that'll do. Ooh!
0:27:38 > 0:27:39So...
0:27:42 > 0:27:46- Found one.- Have you?- Yeah. First place went to Buster Fitzpatrick.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49Got a Buster Fitzpatrick winning.
0:27:49 > 0:27:50Yeah, and another one.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53September. So you've got July, August and September now.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55Oh, all right.
0:27:55 > 0:27:56Every past report is further proof
0:27:56 > 0:27:58of how long he's been committing fraud.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00It's a good job that he is quite good because
0:28:00 > 0:28:02he wouldn't feature in the reports otherwise.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05I've got competition results from
0:28:05 > 0:28:09a month after he actually put his claim into disability benefits.
0:28:09 > 0:28:14It just defies belief why they choose to do something like this.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17And at the end of the day, we're basically funding his hobby.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20They now think Buster has been lying since day one
0:28:20 > 0:28:23and they've got the hard evidence to prove it.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28It's time to bring him in for questioning.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30He may hold his hands up.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32- Not too high, though.- No, of course.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35- His manual dexterity's quite poor, isn't it?- His shoulders as well.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38Donna tends to be the good cop and I tend to be the bad cop.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42I just get frustrated when people just aren't being honest with us
0:28:42 > 0:28:44when we've got, you know,
0:28:44 > 0:28:48especially with the surveillance footage, which is so damning.
0:28:48 > 0:28:53Buster's arrived at the Job Centre for an interview under caution.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56He's replaced his fishing rod with a crutch.
0:28:56 > 0:29:00All right, lovely. We'll be down shortly. Cheers, bye. Bye.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04Ah.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06- Guess where he's parked? - Disabled space?
0:29:06 > 0:29:08The nearest one.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10Judging by his appearance,
0:29:10 > 0:29:13Buster doesn't look like a man ready to come clean.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16It'll just be interesting to see what he's got to say,
0:29:16 > 0:29:21and if he has got excuses, what excuses he's going to throw at me.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25- RECORDING:- The time is 12.28.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27Would you state your full name.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32You've described the way that you walk as extremely poor.
0:29:32 > 0:29:34You've explained to me that you do need physical support.
0:29:34 > 0:29:36Is that every time that you're outdoors?
0:29:36 > 0:29:38- Yes.- It is?- Yes, it is, yes.
0:29:38 > 0:29:42OK. So you can never go out alone, at all, anywhere?
0:29:55 > 0:29:57Right, OK.
0:29:59 > 0:30:01So... Right, OK.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03Yeah, OK.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06Do you wish to change anything that you've told me so far?
0:30:07 > 0:30:10Because I'm going to show you some surveillance footage now
0:30:10 > 0:30:12that we've taken of you.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15If you saw this person in the street, Steven,
0:30:15 > 0:30:19would you describe them as unable or virtually unable to walk
0:30:19 > 0:30:22and required constant care, 24/7?
0:30:22 > 0:30:26Because that's the reason why your benefit's been awarded.
0:30:47 > 0:30:49Well done! Well done, girl.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52He said, "You've caught me hook, line and sinker."
0:30:52 > 0:30:54- Yeah.- So I thought that was quite appropriate.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57I said, you been honest with me? He went, "Yeah, yeah!"
0:30:57 > 0:30:59I thought, "Right..." That's when he got my goat.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02- It gets my back up easy.- I know.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05- You get a little bit faster. - Do I?- Yeah.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08And it's like, "Oh, you've riled her now, mate!"
0:31:08 > 0:31:11I've never seen anybody that disabled - when he walked in.
0:31:11 > 0:31:15I've just said that. It was like, unbelievable, wasn't it?
0:31:15 > 0:31:21He wore a hearing aid, wrist splints on both, he had an elbow crutch.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26Quite pitiful.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28But that changed as the interview went on,
0:31:28 > 0:31:30so it was quite interesting.
0:31:32 > 0:31:38At court, Buster pleads guilty to more than £30,000 worth of fraud.
0:31:38 > 0:31:43He's given an eight-month suspended sentence.
0:31:43 > 0:31:45Hello there. I'm phoning to request a suspension
0:31:45 > 0:31:48of somebody's DLA, please.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50Lisa puts an end to his claim.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53But her next case...
0:31:53 > 0:31:55- Shall we sit outside, with it being nice?- ..could be more difficult.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58There's usually some chairs around the side, isn't there?
0:31:58 > 0:32:01- It's me who was keeping him back, gassing.- Oh, it's all right.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12In London, there's been a dawn raid.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15Tania Amisi, the woman with multiple identities
0:32:15 > 0:32:18has been arrested in her Chelsea flat.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22'This interview is being recorded. Can you please state your name?'
0:32:24 > 0:32:28She looked a little startled, but I think even though she was startled,
0:32:28 > 0:32:30she remained confident,
0:32:30 > 0:32:33because I don't think she was 100% sure what it was all about.
0:32:35 > 0:32:40So far, Helen and Mo have found Tania's made 37 claims
0:32:40 > 0:32:45from 22 councils and used four different identities to get them.
0:32:45 > 0:32:48'You've given me your details today as Tania Amisi,
0:32:48 > 0:32:51'and you aren't known by any other names?'
0:32:54 > 0:32:58'Any other names apart from those two that you've been using?'
0:33:00 > 0:33:03'Now, you're known by a number of aliases
0:33:03 > 0:33:06'including Tania Amidi, Mbeko Amisi,
0:33:06 > 0:33:10'Tanya Amisi, Tania Amisia and Tanasi Amosi.
0:33:10 > 0:33:12'Why would the Home Office have those details for you
0:33:12 > 0:33:15'as aliases when you told me that the only two names you use
0:33:15 > 0:33:19'are Tania Amisi and Tanya Westwood?'
0:33:19 > 0:33:22Initially, at the beginning of the interview,
0:33:22 > 0:33:25she was very relaxed and very cocky.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27'How do you support yourself to live?
0:33:29 > 0:33:32'You don't know how much you pay in rent?'
0:33:32 > 0:33:35'But I'm asking you a question.'
0:33:35 > 0:33:40'We put you under surveillance last October and we followed you.'
0:33:40 > 0:33:44'So why are you claiming money for an address where you don't live?'
0:33:47 > 0:33:51So, when we brought up the fact that we actually did surveillance
0:33:51 > 0:33:54on her, we followed her, she didn't say anything,
0:33:54 > 0:33:58but there was a look of shock and horror in her face that we actually
0:33:58 > 0:34:01followed her on numerous days to see what she was up to.
0:34:03 > 0:34:04She realised she was in trouble.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10With Tania under arrest, her flat is searched.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19It provides an eye-opening insight into her lifestyle.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25When we were searching her bedroom,
0:34:25 > 0:34:29she had nearly every designer bag you can possibly think of.
0:34:29 > 0:34:33She had a Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermes,
0:34:33 > 0:34:37- YSL...- Givenchy. - Givenchy, Dolce & Gabbana -
0:34:37 > 0:34:40every bag you could think of, high-end bag, she had them.
0:34:40 > 0:34:43And they were just thrown in the bottom of the wardrobe.
0:34:43 > 0:34:48These bags are estimated to cost more than £20,000.
0:34:48 > 0:34:51Barclays, Visa debit card, Santander...
0:34:51 > 0:34:54They've also found seven credit cards
0:34:54 > 0:34:57linked to three different identities
0:34:57 > 0:34:59as well as two Congolese passports.
0:34:59 > 0:35:01This passport is full of visas...
0:35:02 > 0:35:05For the Ivory Coast...
0:35:05 > 0:35:08- Brussels.- Brussels.
0:35:08 > 0:35:12This is a visa for America.
0:35:12 > 0:35:14Egypt. Morocco.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17- A frequent flyer. - A very frequent flyer.
0:35:17 > 0:35:21Well, what else has she to do? She's not working.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26She was getting money from various different sources. It was all free.
0:35:26 > 0:35:31So what best way to spend it other than holidaying and shopping?
0:35:33 > 0:35:37While she was on holidays, she went to the Prada outlet.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40You can see that she spent over 2,000 euros.
0:35:43 > 0:35:48I've never encountered anybody that we've ever arrested or investigated
0:35:48 > 0:35:52to have amassed so much money and goods...
0:35:54 > 0:35:56..that's been funded by the taxpayer.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01But they don't have Tania in custody for long.
0:36:01 > 0:36:05She's got a small child and her lawyer manages to
0:36:05 > 0:36:08get her out on bail with a tag and a list of strict conditions.
0:36:23 > 0:36:27Two weeks later, and it's time to face justice.
0:36:28 > 0:36:33Tania's been summoned to Crown Court.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36It was listed for hearing at ten o'clock but she didn't attend,
0:36:36 > 0:36:40as I understand it, because she has been to the hospital.
0:36:40 > 0:36:44I have concerns when someone who's charged with being in possession of
0:36:44 > 0:36:47a false passport not turning up at court,
0:36:47 > 0:36:49but I want to know it's a genuine appointment with a doctor
0:36:49 > 0:36:51or a hospital, because, for all I know,
0:36:51 > 0:36:55they may be on a flight to a foreign country.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58They fear she's done a runner is well-placed.
0:36:58 > 0:37:02Tania has cut off her tag and vanished.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05She's skipped bail. So we're not sure whether or not
0:37:05 > 0:37:08she's in the country or she's out of the country.
0:37:08 > 0:37:10However, my colleague has requested some bank statements,
0:37:10 > 0:37:13her bank statements, so that we can see
0:37:13 > 0:37:16if she's accessed her accounts.
0:37:16 > 0:37:18Mo and Helen hope to find Tania
0:37:18 > 0:37:21by tracking where she's spending money.
0:37:21 > 0:37:25On the 11th of February, she purchased some Eurostar tickets.
0:37:25 > 0:37:26Oh, my gosh. Yeah.
0:37:26 > 0:37:31And it looks like she left the country on the evening on the 11th.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34On the 12th, she was booking herself...
0:37:34 > 0:37:36- In a hotel. - ..into the hotel in Paris.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39So when she was due in court on the 13th,
0:37:39 > 0:37:41- she'd already left the country. - She was in Paris.
0:37:41 > 0:37:45She was already in Paris. You can see then her other transactions
0:37:45 > 0:37:48are in Paris as well.
0:37:48 > 0:37:54And she's moving onwards and then as of the 17th of March 2015...
0:37:54 > 0:37:56Brussels.
0:37:56 > 0:38:00..she's booking herself into the Sheraton in Brussels.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03£294.96.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06- INTERVIEWER:- You're never going to see her again, are you?
0:38:06 > 0:38:08SHE EXHALES
0:38:08 > 0:38:11There's an arrest warrant out for her.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13It's not quite over yet.
0:38:13 > 0:38:15Tania Amisi has fled to Belgium.
0:38:24 > 0:38:26Julie Smith isn't going anywhere.
0:38:26 > 0:38:30She's standing her ground to fight the claims made against her.
0:38:30 > 0:38:34I've got my case statement. I'm not guilty of anything.
0:38:34 > 0:38:37What they're saying I'm guilty of, I'm not.
0:38:37 > 0:38:40But if she wants to stay out of court,
0:38:40 > 0:38:42she needs to persuade her investigators.
0:38:44 > 0:38:48This is what's on the sofa and it's all cans - empty cans of beer.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51There's nothing to indicate anyone was ever there.
0:38:51 > 0:38:56Ruth is reviewing the evidence taken from Julie Smith's council flat.
0:38:56 > 0:39:00She's called her in for an interview under caution to give her a chance
0:39:00 > 0:39:03- to explain herself. - Want to go, John?
0:39:03 > 0:39:05Bring your new pad!
0:39:05 > 0:39:07"Spot the cheat" - the new pad.
0:39:09 > 0:39:11I'm looking forward to what the inventiveness is, aren't you?
0:39:11 > 0:39:14I think she's just trying to front it
0:39:14 > 0:39:16and say that she was staying there all the time
0:39:16 > 0:39:17and we've got it all wrong.
0:39:17 > 0:39:21- Yeah, we always get it wrong, us council workers(!)- Who knows?
0:39:21 > 0:39:24On advice from her lawyer and the council,
0:39:24 > 0:39:27Julie has asked us only to film the investigators,
0:39:27 > 0:39:30so she can concentrate fully on the interview.
0:39:30 > 0:39:35- JULIE:- In May, I found out my ex escaped from prison.
0:39:35 > 0:39:37He's an armed robber, he's violent.
0:39:37 > 0:39:40- I knew he'd come looking for me. - But you removed all your clothing...
0:39:40 > 0:39:44No, no, not everything. But lots of stuff, lots of stuff.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48Tell me the stuff that you took. You're in a rush now...
0:39:48 > 0:39:50Loads of clothes. Yes, loads of clothes.
0:39:50 > 0:39:52I didn't take no toiletries or anything like that.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55Questions turn to the cannabis-growing equipment
0:39:55 > 0:39:56found in Julie's flat.
0:39:56 > 0:40:00These have been used for cultivating cannabis plants.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03That must have been in the hall cupboard. They weren't under my bed, or anything.
0:40:03 > 0:40:07Why are you saying to us they must have been in the hall cupboard, why are you saying that?
0:40:07 > 0:40:08Because it was jam-packed with all rubbish.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11If that is why the other room was stripped out and empty,
0:40:11 > 0:40:13because you were going to set up another cannabis factory...?
0:40:13 > 0:40:15JULIE LAUGHS
0:40:15 > 0:40:17- ..in that address?- Oh, my God! What do you mean, "Another one?"
0:40:17 > 0:40:19I've never... I wouldn't even know how to do it!
0:40:19 > 0:40:22There was a load found at Colchester Road, wasn't there?
0:40:22 > 0:40:25- Yes, but it had nothing to do with me.- I wasn't there, but I've been told.
0:40:25 > 0:40:27He didn't get done for anything like that,
0:40:27 > 0:40:28- he just got done for possession.- OK.
0:40:28 > 0:40:32The investigators also found documents that suggest Julie
0:40:32 > 0:40:35has moved into the house of her boyfriend, Neil.
0:40:35 > 0:40:38- Have you got a Debenhams account? - Yes, I have.
0:40:38 > 0:40:41And where do the bills go for that?
0:40:41 > 0:40:43Erm, probably...
0:40:44 > 0:40:48- ..to Neil's.- Do you have a Santander bank account?- Yes.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51Well, you've told them that your address is Neil's address.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54Probably to be able to get a loan because I couldn't...
0:40:54 > 0:40:57- Well, not credit... - Oh, right.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59Are you telling us, if I've got this right,
0:40:59 > 0:41:03are you telling us that you would tell a bank false information
0:41:03 > 0:41:05to get a loan, is that what you are saying?
0:41:05 > 0:41:07I just want to be clear on this.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09You're pulling a face, but what does that mean?
0:41:09 > 0:41:11- Probably at the time, yeah. - So it's yes?- Yeah.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15It's not my prime home though, my home is Dryden Towers.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18- It's not your address, Julie. - Isn't it?!- No.- OK!
0:41:18 > 0:41:20- It's the address you're getting benefit from.- OK! Whatever.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23- You prove that. - All right, then.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26I agreed to the interview. I said, "Yes, I'll come and have an interview"
0:41:26 > 0:41:28And I agreed to that. I didn't have to go.
0:41:28 > 0:41:30And I wish I hadn't now.
0:41:30 > 0:41:32Yeah, we've got some more enquires to make.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34She's adamant that she lives there.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37- I think it's a story that fits the facts...- Yeah.- ..for her.
0:41:37 > 0:41:39If I can put it like that.
0:41:39 > 0:41:42Over the coming weeks, they'll investigate
0:41:42 > 0:41:47everything Julie told them, before deciding whether to prosecute her.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58In Staffordshire, another woman is fighting to save her reputation.
0:41:59 > 0:42:04Patricia Ward is one of the 3.5 million people in Britain
0:42:04 > 0:42:06claiming disability benefits.
0:42:06 > 0:42:10I just love driving. I suppose I inherited that from my father,
0:42:10 > 0:42:13because my father was a lorry driver.
0:42:13 > 0:42:17Whenever I was off on school holidays, I was out with me dad.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20And I just love vehicles.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23She got a job as a school minibus driver,
0:42:23 > 0:42:26picking up and dropping off schoolchildren twice a day.
0:42:27 > 0:42:29I enjoyed the pupils.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33Once you're out on the road, you're more or less your own boss.
0:42:33 > 0:42:35'I come from an old work ethic.
0:42:35 > 0:42:39'You don't give up work until they screw you in that box.'
0:42:39 > 0:42:44The problem is, she's given the government a very different story.
0:42:44 > 0:42:49She's told them she can't see in one eye and can't grip properly -
0:42:49 > 0:42:54needs so serious she's qualified for nearly £100 a month in benefits
0:42:54 > 0:42:57and a free mobility car, awarded for life.
0:42:59 > 0:43:01I'd be concerned if one of my children
0:43:01 > 0:43:05were actually on that minibus, shall we say.
0:43:05 > 0:43:09Following a tip-off that Patricia is driving for a living,
0:43:09 > 0:43:12Lisa Prince has been investigating her disability claim.
0:43:12 > 0:43:16There we go, there it is. She said that she's got arthritis.
0:43:16 > 0:43:21She can't grip anything... Now, that rings alarm bells for me.
0:43:21 > 0:43:26Patricia's benefits were awarded based on claim forms she filled out.
0:43:26 > 0:43:29On these forms, backed by a letter from her doctor,
0:43:29 > 0:43:33she says she can't do even the most basic tasks.
0:43:33 > 0:43:37The fact that she's driving a minibus and she can't grip anything,
0:43:37 > 0:43:39you know, in terms of the steering wheel...
0:43:39 > 0:43:42It goes into detail about her vision as well,
0:43:42 > 0:43:46and that she has difficulty seeing oncoming vehicles.
0:43:48 > 0:43:50I haven't lied about my disabilities,
0:43:50 > 0:43:55I haven't lied about the fact that I am in a lot of pain...
0:43:56 > 0:43:58..but maybe people aren't looking at that,
0:43:58 > 0:44:01because they're just seeing the other side of the picture, that I worked.
0:44:01 > 0:44:06You can work and claim DLA, and Patricia felt her health conditions
0:44:06 > 0:44:08warranted help from the state.
0:44:08 > 0:44:13'I've got fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis of the knee...'
0:44:13 > 0:44:15This is the sexy wear!
0:44:15 > 0:44:19'Then it left me with drop foot and a leg that drags,'
0:44:19 > 0:44:22so I'd trip and fall for no reason.
0:44:22 > 0:44:26'You know, I can't do it on my own. It's debilitating.'
0:44:26 > 0:44:29And the things I've lost doing, I enjoy doing.
0:44:29 > 0:44:32And it's things like missing out on going to the seaside
0:44:32 > 0:44:36with your grandchildren, because, you know,
0:44:36 > 0:44:40I can't get on the sand... Beach with my chair.
0:44:40 > 0:44:45Patricia maintains that her life is severely restricted by her health,
0:44:45 > 0:44:48but Lisa's visited Patricia's workplace
0:44:48 > 0:44:50and found a different side to the story.
0:44:50 > 0:44:52She hadn't disclosed any disabilities.
0:44:52 > 0:44:54As far as they were concerned,
0:44:54 > 0:44:57she was one of the more reliable drivers at the school.
0:44:57 > 0:44:59They never observed her using any walking aids,
0:44:59 > 0:45:04something which stated she constantly used on a regular basis.
0:45:04 > 0:45:06They observed her getting into and out of a minibus
0:45:06 > 0:45:08without any difficulty.
0:45:08 > 0:45:09I got a letter through the door
0:45:09 > 0:45:14to say I've got to go to a fraud investigation interview.
0:45:14 > 0:45:17I thought at the time, "Oh, you know, don't worry, go.
0:45:17 > 0:45:21"You'll sort it out, you'll explain everything, you'll be fine."
0:45:25 > 0:45:28'Tell me, how do you change the gears on a minibus?'
0:45:32 > 0:45:34'So you push it?'
0:45:35 > 0:45:38'It's just that you said you haven't got any grip.'
0:45:38 > 0:45:42'What about when you're having to turn the steering wheel?'
0:45:46 > 0:45:49'Right, OK. Because you also said that you've got loss of sensation
0:45:49 > 0:45:51'in your right side as well.'
0:45:53 > 0:45:55'Yeah. But you still can manage to...'
0:46:01 > 0:46:03To me, it was harrowing.
0:46:03 > 0:46:06I would say it's the worst day of my life.
0:46:06 > 0:46:09All I envisaged was prison and the door being slammed.
0:46:11 > 0:46:13That thought terrified me.
0:46:13 > 0:46:17Following the interview, Patricia quit her job
0:46:17 > 0:46:21and pleaded guilty to £35,000 worth of fraud.
0:46:21 > 0:46:24Next week, she'll be sentenced
0:46:24 > 0:46:28and faces the very real possibility of going to prison.
0:46:31 > 0:46:35In London, Tania Amisi should be having her day in court.
0:46:35 > 0:46:39Instead, she's skipped bail and fled to Belgium.
0:46:39 > 0:46:43It's been decided to put her on trial in her absence.
0:46:43 > 0:46:48The prosecution is going to present its case to the jurors
0:46:48 > 0:46:51and the defence will do his best to defend her.
0:46:51 > 0:46:55Mo and Helen think they've found Tania's address in Belgium
0:46:55 > 0:46:59and the trial is part of a plan to bring her to justice.
0:46:59 > 0:47:01If she's found guilty in her absence,
0:47:01 > 0:47:04then we can get a European warrant and then bring her back.
0:47:04 > 0:47:06You know, she wants to stick two fingers up at everybody
0:47:06 > 0:47:10by leaving the country before her trial, so I think, yeah,
0:47:10 > 0:47:15there are the occasional cases where you do feel a bit more determined
0:47:15 > 0:47:17that they face justice.
0:47:17 > 0:47:20She's shown no remorse, and she lacks any contrition.
0:47:20 > 0:47:22Nothing. There is just nothing there.
0:47:22 > 0:47:23She just didn't care.
0:47:27 > 0:47:32The trial, which would have normally taken three weeks, lasts four days.
0:47:35 > 0:47:37Oh, God!
0:47:37 > 0:47:39All done.
0:47:39 > 0:47:43We've had the verdict - it was unanimous.
0:47:43 > 0:47:44She was guilty on all counts.
0:47:44 > 0:47:49She's been convicted of 17 counts of housing benefit fraud,
0:47:49 > 0:47:54nearly £250,000 stolen from the public purse -
0:47:54 > 0:47:57enough to put her away for five years.
0:47:57 > 0:48:00I've applied for what's called a European arrest warrant
0:48:00 > 0:48:04and that means that the warrant will be sent to the Belgian authorities
0:48:04 > 0:48:07and, hopefully, she will be arrested in the near future.
0:48:07 > 0:48:08Just a bit of a waiting game, but hopefully
0:48:08 > 0:48:13we won't have to wait too long once we get the warrant circulated.
0:48:18 > 0:48:21Best girl in the world.
0:48:21 > 0:48:23One of them, anyway.
0:48:23 > 0:48:26Julie Smith and her dad are on their way to court.
0:48:26 > 0:48:30The council has decided to prosecute her for fraud.
0:48:31 > 0:48:33I've done nothing wrong.
0:48:33 > 0:48:35I've proven that I've done nothing wrong
0:48:35 > 0:48:38and I'm hoping that, you know, I'm going to get not guilty.
0:48:38 > 0:48:40I may be guilty of not being there from...
0:48:40 > 0:48:45From May till October, but I've more than a good reason for that...
0:48:45 > 0:48:47You know, for me not being there.
0:48:47 > 0:48:50Put it this way, if you was in the house
0:48:50 > 0:48:54where somebody had come on previous occasions and stabbed your dog
0:48:54 > 0:48:57- in front of your baby... - And beat me up.- And beat...
0:48:57 > 0:49:00- I was chased up the road by a fellow with a big knife.- Yeah.
0:49:00 > 0:49:03And I don't want to be in the same house where that man who knows
0:49:03 > 0:49:06where I live and he's going to come and look for me.
0:49:06 > 0:49:07That's why I wasn't at my flat.
0:49:07 > 0:49:10It was only for six months and I've told them that
0:49:10 > 0:49:13I wasn't there for six months, and that's the only reason.
0:49:15 > 0:49:17The suggestion she was planning to grow cannabis
0:49:17 > 0:49:19in the flat has been dropped.
0:49:19 > 0:49:22She's being charged with failing to notify the council
0:49:22 > 0:49:24that she had moved.
0:49:27 > 0:49:30Barrister Neil Ross is prosecuting for the council.
0:49:32 > 0:49:37The overpayment alleged is just short of £20,000.
0:49:37 > 0:49:41What that means is that when one looks at the sentencing guidelines,
0:49:41 > 0:49:45the starting point will be in and around 36 weeks' prison,
0:49:45 > 0:49:49so one is potentially is facing a custodial sentence... Serious.
0:49:49 > 0:49:50This is her defence.
0:49:50 > 0:49:53She was running away from this ex-boyfriend who was violent.
0:49:53 > 0:49:55I had a look online, he had escaped.
0:49:55 > 0:49:58Yeah, it's the truth. I've got a statement from the police officer.
0:49:58 > 0:50:00Paul Oddysses, Julie's boyfriend,
0:50:00 > 0:50:02was on the run for three months
0:50:02 > 0:50:05before he was recaptured by the police.
0:50:05 > 0:50:09And you've already been alerted by the police that he's escaped.
0:50:09 > 0:50:12He certainly made contact with you.
0:50:12 > 0:50:16It certainly explains why you would pack up everything and go and stay,
0:50:16 > 0:50:20- you know, either with your current partner, with a family friend... - JULIE:- Anybody.
0:50:20 > 0:50:23..or anyone and avoid going to the property.
0:50:23 > 0:50:26There is no dispute about that as a background.
0:50:26 > 0:50:30What's relevant is, as far as this case is concerned, is whether that,
0:50:30 > 0:50:31in fact, is what drove her decision
0:50:31 > 0:50:34about where she was living or not,
0:50:34 > 0:50:38or if that was used as...
0:50:38 > 0:50:43As an explanation after the fact to help bolster her defence.
0:50:45 > 0:50:49The council says Julie told the bank and insurance companies that she had
0:50:49 > 0:50:53moved out of the council flat well before her boyfriend escaped.
0:50:56 > 0:50:59- TANNOY:- All parties in the case of Smith to court five, please.
0:50:59 > 0:51:03- All parties...- We'd better go in. - Come on, honey.
0:51:03 > 0:51:04- Thank you.- All right?
0:51:10 > 0:51:12The case lasts for two days.
0:51:12 > 0:51:15The jury is out for a few hours.
0:51:15 > 0:51:18- INTERVIEWER:- What's happened? - Liars have won.- Unbelievable.
0:51:18 > 0:51:20They think she's a sponger.
0:51:20 > 0:51:22She's never been a sponger in her life.
0:51:22 > 0:51:25I'm shocked. I am totally shocked by what they've said.
0:51:25 > 0:51:27You can be proven guilty for being innocent.
0:51:27 > 0:51:29Yeah, well, you have. That's what they've done.
0:51:29 > 0:51:31They've done you for nothing.
0:51:31 > 0:51:34I had every bit of evidence I needed to prove elsewhere
0:51:34 > 0:51:37and they still come up with the guilty.
0:51:37 > 0:51:40Julie gets a six-month suspended sentence,
0:51:40 > 0:51:45180 hours of community service, and is evicted from her flat.
0:51:45 > 0:51:47Well, obviously, I'm gutted about my flat,
0:51:47 > 0:51:49because I've had it years and years and that was...
0:51:49 > 0:51:51You know, I loved my flat.
0:51:51 > 0:51:55But they obviously saw it that I didn't and they've got it wrong.
0:51:55 > 0:51:58All I can do now is try and better myself.
0:51:58 > 0:52:02It's a new start now. You know where you're going, and that's it.
0:52:04 > 0:52:08Julie is out and the council have their property back.
0:52:15 > 0:52:19- Right, are you ready?- Yeah. - It's the fear of the unknown again.
0:52:19 > 0:52:23Not knowing what's going to happen when I get to court.
0:52:23 > 0:52:27Over in Staffordshire, it's judgment day for Patricia Ward.
0:52:27 > 0:52:32She pleaded guilty to £35,000 worth of benefit fraud
0:52:32 > 0:52:34and faces possible jail time.
0:52:36 > 0:52:40Get my purse out, get my money out. I'll pay for diesel.
0:52:42 > 0:52:45Just guide me out. I can't see.
0:52:48 > 0:52:53I'm hoping they come out with probation, for the family, you know,
0:52:53 > 0:52:56because of the family situation at home.
0:52:59 > 0:53:02But I've just got to wait and see.
0:53:02 > 0:53:06'She knows that what she's done was completely wrong
0:53:06 > 0:53:10'and she's gone guilty at the earliest opportunity as well.'
0:53:10 > 0:53:13So have I got any sympathy for her? No, I haven't.
0:53:13 > 0:53:15You get quite hardened, I think, to this job.
0:53:15 > 0:53:19Some of them tend to play the act out until the bitter end.
0:53:19 > 0:53:23So I wouldn't be surprised today if she does bring her elbow crutch
0:53:23 > 0:53:25or walking stick into court
0:53:25 > 0:53:30just to try and get some sympathy from the judge.
0:53:30 > 0:53:34Am I going too fast for you in this?
0:53:34 > 0:53:36I tend to leave people behind.
0:53:47 > 0:53:51Are you all right? Yeah, nine months...suspended.
0:53:51 > 0:53:53Suspended!
0:53:53 > 0:53:57Damn! Suspended for 12.
0:53:57 > 0:54:00She nearly went, she nearly went.
0:54:00 > 0:54:03- INTERVIEWER:- How do you feel?
0:54:03 > 0:54:05Still a little bit angry at the fact
0:54:05 > 0:54:10that no medical evidence was ever taken into consideration.
0:54:10 > 0:54:12You know, it was just seen that I'd lied all the way along,
0:54:12 > 0:54:15when I hadn't.
0:54:15 > 0:54:18Or, you know, the fact that I had to dope myself up
0:54:18 > 0:54:22with that many painkillers to operate.
0:54:22 > 0:54:25Patricia hasn't given up on her benefits.
0:54:25 > 0:54:28Whilst she's guilty of fraud for this claim,
0:54:28 > 0:54:31she's now applied for another form of support.
0:54:31 > 0:54:34She's been awarded personal independent payments,
0:54:34 > 0:54:38which has replaced DLA benefits, and she's been awarded it
0:54:38 > 0:54:42since August 2014, which was the month I actually interviewed her
0:54:42 > 0:54:46under caution for DLA offences.
0:54:46 > 0:54:50As Lisa cancelled one, Patricia applied for and was given
0:54:50 > 0:54:55another disability benefit, but this time on a lower rate.
0:54:55 > 0:54:57'She's been given a three-year reward.'
0:54:57 > 0:54:59Nearly £76 a week.
0:54:59 > 0:55:01I guess the only saving grace with this case now
0:55:01 > 0:55:04is that she will be reviewed,
0:55:04 > 0:55:08whereas before her DLA was an indefinite award.
0:55:08 > 0:55:11All people claiming the new disability benefit
0:55:11 > 0:55:13will now have regular checks.
0:55:18 > 0:55:22Bringing Tania Amisi back to Britain for sentencing hasn't gone smoothly.
0:55:24 > 0:55:26Despite all the hard work,
0:55:26 > 0:55:30it takes weeks for the warrant to be processed.
0:55:30 > 0:55:32In that time, Tania moves on.
0:55:37 > 0:55:40We've done some research, used some investigators to have a dig
0:55:40 > 0:55:43- to see what we could find on the internet, effectively.- OK.
0:55:43 > 0:55:46I want to show you some of the stuff that we've found.
0:55:46 > 0:55:49So, Tania...
0:55:49 > 0:55:54# Hello, can you hear me?
0:55:54 > 0:55:56# I'm in California... #
0:55:56 > 0:56:01Oh, it makes me feel sick. Honestly, it makes me feel sick.
0:56:01 > 0:56:03# When we were younger... #
0:56:03 > 0:56:05We think that shows her two places -
0:56:05 > 0:56:10in Istanbul, Turkey, and back in the Congo.
0:56:11 > 0:56:15And putting stuff like this on her Facebook page...
0:56:15 > 0:56:17She's very bold. I just...
0:56:17 > 0:56:21I just can't believe it. She's teasing us.
0:56:21 > 0:56:25She's saying, "Well, look, here I am, and I'm still doing what I do."
0:56:25 > 0:56:28We've done all that we can do and the rest is up to the police
0:56:28 > 0:56:31and the rest of the justice system, over which we have no control.
0:56:31 > 0:56:34Tania Amisi only came to the attention of the authorities
0:56:34 > 0:56:37- because she was arrested for something else.- That's right.
0:56:37 > 0:56:39- You would never have known about her.- No.
0:56:39 > 0:56:42So how many other Tania Amisis are out there
0:56:42 > 0:56:43doing the sort of fraud that she's up to?
0:56:43 > 0:56:46There could be hundreds.
0:56:46 > 0:56:50But Tania was convicted and she's on the run.
0:56:50 > 0:56:53One slip-up and she'll go to jail.