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A spiritual guru who stole £40,000 in benefits which he used to fund a private healthcare scheme has been jailed.

Parmjit Singh, from Wentworth Road, Southall, was sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of 18 counts of falsely claming benefits from Hounslow Council.

The 41-year-old, who told his followers he believed in the healing powers of alternative medicine, claimed housing benefit from November 1995 to November 2004.

He used the money to help fund a private healthcare scheme and gym membership.

Singh claimed he was a tenant in Wentworth Road and supplied the council with documents allegedly signed by a landlord.

As his family was on a low income, he received housing benefit to help pay the £670 monthly rent.

But his landlord was actually a member of his own family - something he had not declared on his forms - making his claims illegal.

While claiming benefits Singh provided letters and documents allegedly from his landlords backing up his right to continue claiming.

But during Singh's Isleworth Crown Court trial last month two different landlords denied completing or signing the documents.

They also said they had not been paid any rent from Singh and did not know he was claiming benefits for their addresses.

Speaking after Mr Singh's sentencing last week Councillor Gerald McGregor, lead member for finance for Hounslow Council, said: "Claiming benefits you are not entitled too is a very serious crime, and that severity has been illustrated by this sentence.

"Mr Singh disgracefully weaved a web of lies and deceit to claim monies from the taxpayer, money that would have been better used funding front-line services. In addition this man has shown absolutely no remorse or regret for his crime."

To confidentially report benefit fraud, contact the council fraud team on 020 8583 2111 or fraud@hounslow.gov.uk.

8:05pm Thursday 27th March 2008

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