‘Full-time fraudster’ jailed for 5 years 8 months

David Peters, 30, from Edgware, London had earlier pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to the £650,000 fraud.

The City of London Police detective responsible for bringing him to justice described Peters as ‘the biggest case of identity theft the force had ever investigated’ and a ‘full-time fraudster’.

Peters applied for driving licences using fake proof of identity documents, targeting rural Post Offices to ensure the documents were checked by someone less familiar with forgeries.

He would then use the driving licenses to open bank accounts and claim housing benefits. Peters also acquired two mortgages, worth a total of more than £400,000, for properties in Edgware and Dagenham.

Peters’ frauds were linked to over 40 addresses across the UK. It is thought he spent the proceeds of his eight-year crime career on prestige cars, designer clothes and other luxury items.

His crime was brought to an end after a City of London Police investigation, which was supported by the Department for Work and Pensions.

DI Richard Fisher said: “This is the biggest case of identity theft we have ever investigated. The sheer number of the fake identities we discovered are evidence of how Peters was a full-time fraudster funding a life of excess at the expense of others.”

"By working closely with the DWP we have brought an end to Peters’ days of deceit, while at the same time sending out a warning to anyone else who likes to act as someone they are not as means to commit a crime." 

Chris Beedle, DWP fraud investigator, said: “Our fraud investigation teams are working together with the police, HMRC, local councils and other government bodies to crack down hard on these professional fraudsters.
 
“Benefit fraud is a crime and in this case vital benefits were used to fuel a lavish lifestyle at the expense of the taxpayer.”