Grenfell fraudster who blamed 'difficulties and homelessness' after stealing £100,000 from victims jailed

A fraudster who stole more than £100,000 meant for victims of the Grenfell fire by claiming he was living with a family who died in the blaze has been jailed for six years.

Sharife Elouahabi, 38, lied about staying in a flat with a family of five who all died in the fire to claim around £103,000 in financial assistance and accommodation between June 23 last year and June 25 this year.

His lawyer said that Elouahabi suffered form depression, blaming ‘difficulties and homelessness’ for his crime.

Elouahabi was due to receive resettlement payments worth a further £14,730 to go towards a flat and free utilities before the fraud was uncovered this June.

Over the year he was put up in four different hotels but was kicked out of two for “failing to comply with the rules”.

An investigation revealed before going to the hotels, he was likely living with his girlfriend at her flat in Kensington.

Mobile phone data showed he was “frequently” at the flat and he was arrested there for failing surrender numerous times to police.

Sentencing, Judge Robin Johnson said: “In the aftermath of a tragedy you sought and received profit and attempted to obtain a permanent property advantage over others.

“The facts of the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy are well known. The effect on those who died, their families and friends, cannot be imagined by those who were not directly affected.

“The fact that the unscrupulous sought to enrich themselves with accommodation, services and money is all the more shocking in the light of the outpouring of grief and sympathy that followed the disaster.”

Elouahabi said in a statement through his counsel that he was “sincerely sorry”.

udge Robinson said the fraud was perpetrated with a “considerable amount of planning and persistence”, as Elouahabi was allocated two support workers.

He said: “You were manipulative and clearly convincing for a number of months.

“You feigned all the symptoms that one might expect of a genuine survivor.

“The fact you lived locally and were part of the community that was so affected by the fire makes your conduct the more unattractive.”

Elouahabi, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to fraud on November 5, the first day of his trial.

During his trial, the court heard that he had 28 previous convictions for 54 offences including burglary and common assault.

Seventy-two people died in the fire at Grenfell Tower in west London on June 14 last year.