Former Central Bedfordshire council employee spared jail after housing fraud
Kanyin Jolaosho given suspended sentence for £39,812 fraud
A former Central Bedfordshire Council employee, Kanyin Jolaosho, has been spared prison time after pleading guilty to multiple charges of housing fraud that resulted in substantial financial losses.
Jolaosho, formerly residing on Carroll Drive, Bedford, faced 13 counts of housing-related fraud, amounting to £39,812.85, carried out during his tenure as a Senior Housing Officer.
Appearing at Luton Crown Court, Jolaosho was handed a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, along with orders to pay £3,850 in costs. He was also assigned 200 hours of unpaid work and 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.
The judge described his actions as 'despicable,' noting the manipulation of council systems to divert funds meant for the council, tenants, and a fake landlord incentive payment.
The case was referred to the Council’s Fraud Team after staff concerns were raised about Jolaosho’s activities whilst undertaking his job as a Senior Housing Officer, often dealing with vulnerable homeless people.
Investigators discovered that Jolaosho manipulated council systems, which included diverting tenants’ rent payments that were due to be paid to the council, diverting tenants’ deposits and a fake landlord incentive payment.
The Council says it is “pursuing recovery action to reclaim the stolen funds. Affected tenants and landlords have not been left out of pocket, with swift action taken to replace any identified losses”.
Adding that, “following the investigation the Council has conducted a rigorous review of processes put in place to prevent fraud.”
Cllr John Baker, Executive Member for Finance, said: “The Council takes any fraud extremely seriously.
“These offences represented a serious abuse of position and a breach of the trust placed in council staff. Importantly, swift action was taken to ensure no tenant or landlord was out of pocket and funds were repaid.”