A UNIVERSITY student has been jailed after falsely claiming £30,000 in housing benefit while he was studying.
Mayowa Ogunbayo, 23, of Bollo Bridge Road, Acton, was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison after admitting the fraud at Ealing Magistrates' Court on October 6.
Ogunbayo started claiming housing benefit in November 2006.
However, he failed to cancel his payments when he became a full-time student at Kingston University in 2008. He made further claims but failed to declare student loans and is now liable to pay all the money back.
He is the second student in the borough to be jailed this year for benefits offences.
Cabinet member for finance Councillor Yvonne Johnson said: "It's such a shame that through his dishonesty this young man has landed himself with a prison sentence and criminal record. I hope other students will take heed and not be tempted to make fraudulent claims."
