A delivery driver from Margate, Kent, has been sentenced to 40 months in prison for fraudulently claiming over £172,000 in benefits by using the identities of friends and family. Atikur Rahman, 34, pleaded guilty to multiple charges involving benefit fraud between July 2015 and May 2021 at Canterbury Crown Court.

Rahman used 26 different identities in an extensive scheme that involved submitting more than 40 benefit claims. These claims included maternity allowance, universal credit, tax credits, and child benefit. In addition, he set up fictitious companies, fabricated employment details, and even invented children to support his applications.

Authorities also discovered that Rahman attempted to exploit the government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme, registering more than 20 fraudulent claims in an effort to secure over £62,000. The scheme, introduced to support businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, was targeted to generate additional illicit funds.

The fraud came to light in 2018 when one of the individuals whose identity had been used attempted to apply for benefits themselves. Staff handling the claim became suspicious, triggering an investigation by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

In addition to the prison sentence, Rahman has received an eight-year disqualification from serving as a company director, reflecting the seriousness of the offenses linked to the false business registrations.

The DWP said this case underscores ongoing efforts to detect and prevent benefit fraud, which it regards as a significant abuse of public funds. Rahman’s actions manipulated social support systems designed to assist eligible individuals, undermining public trust in these programs.