Khrystal Miller-Hazelden received £45,000 in rent payments from tenants whilst she dishonestly sub-let her three-bedroom home on Humber Road, Charlton, between July 2021 and January 2024.
The social home had been provided to her by Bromley Council, despite it being located in the neighbouring borough, and records show the property was last sold in 2019 for £900,000.
At the same time Miller-Hazelden was receiving housing benefits for the Humber Road property as well as housing benefits for a property she was living in on Whitehorse Road, Croydon.
Miller-Hazelden, 32, pleaded guilty to dishonestly sub-letting an assured tenancy home and appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on Thursday, October 9.
She is no longer living at the Humber Road or Whitehorse Road properties.
The court heard she avoided being charged with benefits fraud, a more serious offence which may have resulted in a prison sentence, because she had agreed to repay £32,000 of housing benefits to Bromley Council at £100 a month – which will take her until 2050.
Judith Kessie, defending, said her client was manipulated into the scam by an abusive ex-partner.
“She was in a very abusive relationship. Her bank accounts were being controlled. She does accept that she should have reported it but she feared repercussions,” Ms Kessie said.
“Eventually somebody did report it and she was brought in for questioning and has pleaded guilty.”
Khrystal Miller-Hazelden pictured leaving Bromley Magistrates’ Court(Image: Newsquest)
Her former-partner is now serving a 17-year prison sentence and Miller-Hazelden no longer has any involvement with him, Ms Kessie said.
Her partner controlled her bank accounts during this time but Miller-Hazelden did benefit with money provided to her by him.
“The money wasn’t being used for large purchases or holidays, it was being used for day-to-day living expenses for her and her three children,” Ms Kessie said.
District Judge Sarah Turnock, sentencing, said: “Your case is complicated for a number of reasons, including that you are lucky not to have been charged with more serious offences including benefit fraud for which you could have gone to prison.
“To avoid that prosecution you agreed to repay Bromley Council at the rate of £100 a month.”
The court heard that Miller-Hazelden works one day a week and continues to receive over £2,000 of state benefits each month.
DJ Turnock said: “I take the view that I must make an unlawful profit order. I’m going to do that instead of additionally sentencing you to a community order.
“I consider that you did technically receive £45,000 profit. You have committed to repaying housing benefit of approximately £32,000 back to Bromley Council so I consider it appropriate to reduce the unlawful profit order by that amount.
“The order I’m therefore making is £13,000.”
Miller-Hazelden will be asked to pay the £13,000 back at £100 a month, which will take just under 11 years.
