'Disgraceful' fraudster attempted to get £28k in Covid business grants despite no longer owning premises
A fraudster business owner who attempted to claim almost £28,000 in Covid grant funding has been sentenced for his ‘disgraceful’ breach of trust after it was discovered he had vacated the premises which he based his claims on.
Abbas Sharief, 60, of Doncaster Avenue, Withington, was convicted of three counts of fraud by false representation at Wigan Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (March 28) after applying for three grants aimed at helping businesses during the pandemic.
The court heard that Sharief had applied for and was granted £10,000 from the Small Business Rates Grant Fund, which was to support business owners forced to close during the pandemic, in April 2020. READ MORE: Woman, 92, woke up to find couple in her bedroom - it was just the start of her horror ordeal To be eligible for the fund, owners had to be actively trading from a registered address but Sharief had already vacated the premises where he based his claim prior to the pandemic.
On January 18, 2021, Sharief applied for a Local Restrictions Grant stating he was still occupying the business premises. He was awarded £9,669.21 after his application was approved.
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