A TEACHER has been exposed as the mastermind behind a seven-year benefits fraud totalling £80,000.

Hatam Abbas, a 40-year-old supply teacher who taught maths across the North-west, used a web of fictitious characters, relationships, marriages, jobs and disabilities to claim thousands of pounds in housing benefits and housing renewal applications.

He even used his nine-year-old son’s bank account to hide £70,000.

It took investigators from Bolton Council three years to untangle the trail of lies.

Abbas, who owned four houses across Bolton, was yesterday jailed for 18 months at Bolton Crown Court, while his wife, Nada Abbas, aged 30, and half-brother, Nabil Abbas, aged 33, were given community sentences for their involvement in the fraud.

Hatam Abbas, who also founded an Arabic Saturday school in Bolton, used the cash to pay off mortgages, buy a Mercedes and refurbish a house.

The fraud involved claiming housing benefits for multiple properties, lying about who owned them and who lived there.

Hatam Abbas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud and possession of criminal property.

Nada Abbas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud and Nabila Abbas pleaded guilty to making a false declaration to obtain benefit.

Nada Abbas was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for six months, and ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.

Nabil Abbas was given 180 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £650 costs.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: “It has taken three years of painstaking investigation by a housing benefit fraud investigators to bring this case to court but we are extremely pleased with the outcome."