A 35-year-old man has been jailed after admitting eight counts of benefit fraud.

Shazad Akhtar of Bolton St, Glodwick, Oldham, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

Akhtar was charged following a financial investigation, which was launched after he pleaded guilty to 22 indictments of obtaining and attempting to obtain driving licenses by deception. Those charges related to a scam, headed up by Akhtar, in which he impersonated practical driving test candidates and obtained licenses for unqualified and untested drivers, which were sold for thousands of pounds.

On Monday 18 June last year Akhtar was sentenced to 200 hours community service and ordered to pay £500 costs for supplying illegal driving licenses.

During the ensuing financial investigation following conviction, which was assisted by investigators from Oldham Council, it was found that Akhtar had illegally claimed housing benefit, job seekers allowance and council tax benefit, thought to be worth almost £33,000.

In order to facilitate these benefit deceptions, Akhtar lived in his Bolton Street address - which he claimed to be renting from a family member while unemployed - when in fact no rent was paid and he was employed as a company owner and director.

Akhtar then changed his name by deed poll to Shabaz Khan, transferred the Bolton Street property to himself under the name of Khan and continued to claim benefit under his true name (thereby receiving payment for living in his own property).

Akhtar later purchased an adjoining house and converted both properties into one. While this was being done he went to Oldham Council, claiming to have been in dispute with his landlord at Bolton Street. He was then provided with a council property for which he claimed further benefit.

When he had finished renovating his home on Bolton Street Akhtar returned, but by now was under police investigation.

In the final and most audacious leg of his deception, Akhtar transferred the title of the new Bolton Street property from his assumed name of Khan, to a visiting relative from Pakistan, but in order to retain control of his interest in the property, power of attorney for the property was given to his father and cousin.

Detective Sergeant Darren Grafton from Oldham CID said: "Akhtar is a compulsive liar and fraudster.

"He thought he could swindle the benefits system and I am delighted he has been held accountable for his actions.

"Akhtar thought he could run a criminal enterprise and get away with it but today is starting a considerable prison sentence."

A confiscation hearing has been set for 23 December 2008.