BBC Rogue Traders presenter Dan Penteado jailed for £24,000 fraud

Published on 17/07/2012 12:02

BBC Rogue Traders presenter Dan Penteado has been jailed for 12 weeks for council tax and housing benefit fraud worth more than £24,000.

The 40-year-old, who chases down bogus workmen with Matt Allwright on the television show, had previously admitted eight offences of dishonestly or knowingly claiming the benefits while not declaring he earned more than £56,000 from the BBC.

His solicitor Terrence Scanlan told Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court he committed the fraud from 2008 to 2012 because he was on a short-term contract with the BBC and made the “very poor judgment not to interrupt the flow of housing benefit”.

Debt-ridden Penteado was only caught when a council housing benefit officer recognised him on Rogue Traders and matched the name to his fraudulent application.

The BBC Rogue Traders presenter was yesterday jailed for 12 weeks at Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court.

Earlier in the hearing Mr Scanlan told the court that Portuguese-born Penteado was a man of good character but was “sinking in debt” and owed £20,000.

Penteado has worked on

television’s Watchdog as well as Rogue Traders. He is to be axed from the show following the case, the BBC said.