Former Lib Dem Councillor spared jail

Tabasum Aslam the former Lib Dem councillor for Heckmondwike was spared jail (like there was every any possibility of that happening!) for attempting to fraudulently obtain benefits.
The judge ruled out any possibility of a jail sentence saying that; 'the loss of his good name and character' were punishment enough.
Which name would that be then? His real one? Or one of the one's he uses to fill out his benefit forms?
And how is it possible for someone standing as a Lib Dem to have a good name in the first place?
The mind boggles!
Apprently he filled in a form for his mother claiming that she was renting the house (that he, his brother and his mother owned) from his brother. All using various names that he and his family go by.
The 'community' must be very proud of him.
He also tried fiddling his council tax.
He was eventually given a two year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £2,500 court costs.
His defending barrister Richard Clews said without any hint of irony that;
"this is not a criminal fraudster trying to enrich himself. This was a man trying to get on the property ladder.
All he was trying to do was keep his head above water."
Its must be a real struggle trying to keep your head above water when you're trying to mange on a measly 47 grand a year. The poor man.
The judge said after passing sentence that: "the criminal convictions and loss of your good name and character is the main punishment in this case."
He could always use one of his other names i suppose.

Read the story here.

Old Lady mugged by Asians in Heckmondwike

A 74 year old lady was mugged in Morrissons supermarket in Heckmondwike by two Asian girls. She was followed round the store and punched twice before having her mobile phone stolen.
Read the full story here.

Ex Lib Dem Councillor Guilty of Benefit Fraud

Update ..... Tabasum Aslam the former Lib Dem Councillor for Heckmondwike (between 2004 and 2006) has been convicted of four fraud charges relating to supplying false documents in order to claim housing benefits.
He will be sentenced next month.

Big deal you might say, especially seeing as it's only benefit fraud - not exactly the crime of the century - and i agree to an extent and it's a welcome departure from the usual Lib Dem Councillor crime of choice IE. sex crimes that usually involve the rape of kids (see here)
But this was a man who at the time of the fraud was working in IT and combined with his Councillors allowance was earning 47,000 pounds a year and was employed as an elected Councillor for the people of Heckmondwike but he still tried to steal a bit more.
Unfortunately lying and cheating comes as second nature to some people.
By the way he's still a member of the Lib Dems and also on the Police Board and as far as we're aware hasn't been asked or forced to resign from either but we'll keep you updated
Read the story here.

Lib Dem Councillors fraud hearing

Ex-Heckmondwike Liberal Democrat Councillor Tabasum Aslam is standing trial at Leeds Crown Court on four charges of dishonestly producing a false document to obtain benefits.

Aslam, 33, of Lobley Street Heckmondwike, a Kirklees councillor from June 11 2004 until May 3 last year, denies all the charges.
We'll keep you posted of the verdict.
Read the story here