Michael Mills: Benefit Fraud

Michael Mills

Michael Mills, 64, a member of Holywell town council in Flintshire at the time, was caught following a tip-off.

Investigators found that his wife Brenda died in January 2010 but kept observations as he went to the Post Office to claim her benefits.

Mills admitted 14 fraud charges and will be sentenced at a later date.

Flintshire magistrates heard that the couple had been married 44 years but that Mrs Mills had been extremely ill for the last five years of her life, ending her days in hospital.


Prosecutor Henry Hills said that the Department of Work and Pensions received anonymous information that he was continuing to claim his dead wife's benefits.

Checks showed that retirement benefits of £40 a week were still being paid out in her name together with £402 a month disability living allowance - but checks with the registrar showed that she died on 23 January 2010.

Observations showed that he was attending the Greenfield sub post office weekly, and post office records showed he was still claiming benefits as a married man caring for a disabled wife, as well as her benefits.

After Mills was arrested in January this year, it also emerged that he had failed to disclose his miner's pension.

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David Gawn: Theft

David Gawn (Labour)

David Gawn, of Lankers Drive, South Harrow, appeared afresh at Hendon Magistrates’ Court on Monday on a charge of the attempted theft of £7,000 belong to Dennis O’Brien on or before August 5 last year.

His case was committed to Harrow Crown Court and the Labour ward councillor for Harrow on the Hill was granted unconditional bail to appear for a plea hearing there on June 22.

Gawn previously appeared on the same charge twice before at the same magistrates’ court, on January 5 and on February 23, before the court discharged the committal of the case to the crown court, on March 15.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) formally re-charged Gawn and re-registered the case on March 27, leading to Monday’s hearing.

Gawn’s solicitor Julian Prus told the Observer his client will deny the charge.

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Sandy Ezekiel: Fraud

Sandy Ezekiel (Conservative)

Former town hall leader Sandy Ezekiel has been accused of fraud and misconduct in a public office will not be suspended from sitting on the council.

Cllr Sandy Ezekiel, who represents the Clitonville East ward for the Conservative Party on Thanet District Council, was charged this week with fraud by abuse of position.

The 59-year-old – real name Maurice –of Crow Hill, Broadstairs, was also charged with misconduct in a public office.

Officers from the Serious Economic Crime Unit of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate also charged 64-year-old Philip Emanuel, of Laleham Gardens, Margate, with aiding and abetting fraud by abuse of position.

Despite the criminal investigation, a council spokeswoman said the authority would not be suspending Cllr Ezekiel from his elected position.

“This is an outstanding criminal matter that is being dealt with by the police,” she said.

Shadow Tory leader Cllr Robert Bayford said no decision had yet been made on whether Cllr Ezekiel would be suspended from the party.

“We haven’t addressed that yet; it’s something the Conservative group in Thanet and the Conservative Party will have to review,” he said.

Police say the alleged offences are related to a property in King Street, Margate, between September 2009 and February 2011.

Senior Crown Prosecutor with the CPS South East Complex Casework Unit Ken Goss said he advised Kent Police to charge the two men.

“It is alleged one of the men improperly used privileged Thanet District Council information in relation to the purchase of two properties,” he said.

“This decision was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.”

Both men have been bailed to attend Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, May 8.

Cllr Ezekiel, who was arrested in November, was first elected onto Thanet District Council for the Tory party on May 1, 1999.

The carpet trader became council leader on May 22, 2003, and stepped down on May 13, 2010. He held onto his seat in last year’s elections winning the majority of the votes.

He remains councillor for the Cliftonville East ward and sits on the Joint Transportation Board.

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Margaret Moran: Expenses Fraud

Morgan Moran (Tory)

Former Luton South MP Margaret Moran, who is accused of fiddling her parliamentary expenses, will not face a jury, a judge has decided.

Mr Justice Saunders said Ms Moran, 56, would not have to appear in court, after psychiatrist Philip Joseph said she was not fit to stand trial.

Dr Joseph said the ex-Labour MP was suffering from a depressive illness and had extreme anxiety and agitation.

Ms Moran did not attend the hearing at Lewes Crown Court.

Ms Moran, of Ivy Road, St Denys, Southampton, Hampshire, was described as weeping inconsolably when she appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court last year on 15 charges of false accounting and six of using a false instrument relating to expense claims totalling about £80,000.

It is alleged that Ms Moran, who stood down at the last election, "flipped" her designated second home, making claims for properties in London, Luton and Southampton.


Other allegations include that she dishonestly claimed £22,500 to repair dry rot at her Southampton home.

She is also accused of falsely claiming £14,805 for boiler repairs and work on her conservatory.

Dr Joseph told Lewes Crown Court the stress of the proceedings and allegations she was facing made it impossible for her to participate in court proceedings.

He said she had tried to harm herself and there was a risk of suicide.

He added that she felt feelings of abandonment by the Labour Party and shame that her career was over.

Mr Justice Saunders said: "Dr Joseph has attempted to discuss the allegations with her and is satisfied that she is not able to give proper instructions.

"He recorded her as saying 'I just want to plead guilty and be punished', but his view and my judgement is that is unlikely to have been a response reached after a proper consideration of the allegations and is simply an attempt to get the matter over with and assuage feelings of guilt which may relate to other matters."

He added that both sides were in broad agreement and all the experts agreed that Ms Moran is unfit to plead.

The case was adjourned to Southwark Crown Court on 15 November for a three-day hearing for a jury to determine whether the defendant committed the acts alleged by the prosecution.

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Brian Silvester - Multiple convictions

Brian Silvester (Tory Councillor)

Cllr Silvester, a former deputy council leader, is to be prosecuted by his own authority for failing to obtain a licence for a house of multiple occupation.

But now the councillor of 35 years standing will face a joint prosecution by the council and the fire service in relation to the building he rents out as bedsits at his home in Shavington House Farm on Crewe Road, Shavington.

In January the building was shut down by the fire service after it was declared a fire safety risk.

A prohibition notice was served against the flats, forbidding them to be used for sleeping and living accommodation while the safety issues were rectified.

And now, after months of investigation, the fire service has decided to prosecute.

As the council and the fire service share the same legal team, the original court date has been pushed back to accommodate both charges.

Cllr Silvester, who is being prosecuted alongside his brother Colin, will now appear at South Cheshire Magistrates Court to face the charges next month.

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