A father-of-six who changed his name to enable his wife to fraudulently claim thousands of pounds in benefits has been ordered to pay back over £170,000.

Calvin Stuart, 34, of Carnanton Road in Walthamstow, was investigated by Waltham Forest council in 2013.

When his home was raided in February of that year, police and council officers uncovered documents proving he had changed his name by deed poll.

The raid also led to the discovery of a sawn-off shotgun, ammunition, £12,400 in cash hidden in a sofa, and a small cannabis factory in an outbuilding.

Working with the Department of Work and Pensions, the authority discovered Stuart changed his name so his partner could obtain housing benefit.

Miranda Vassell, 34, claimed an over-payment of £45,529 as a result.

Vassell transferred £25,256 of this to Stuart to pay the mortgage.

She also fraudulently obtained income support by claiming she was a single parent and paid rent to a landlord called Sherief Khan.

Khan was in fact her partner Stuart, who produced a change of name deed poll to persuade the council the tenancy was genuine.

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A shotgun found in couple's home in Carnanton Road in Walthamstow

Vassell was sentenced in November 2013 to 18 months in jail, suspended for two years.

In January 2014 Stuart pleaded guilty to dishonestly allowing a false document to be produced for the purpose of obtaining benefit and converting criminal property.

On March 30, Stuart, who is currently serving a five-year sentence, was ordered to pay back £172,844 after the council took him to court.

The figure also includes income support fraudulently claimed.

A judge at Snaresbrook Crown Court ruled he must pay the full amount within six months or face a further two years behind bars.

If you suspect someone is committing any kind of fraud against the Council or the public sector, contact the Council’s Counter Fraud Group on fraud@walthamforest.gov.uk.