Former Another Generation magazine editor Farah Damji is imminently due to be sentenced for a new series of offences she pleaded guilty to last week.

At Blackfriars Crown Court last week the prosecution said Ms Damji had £17,000 worth of benefit fraud and made false representations to two separate landlords for properties in London

The court heard that:

1. She fraudulently claimed £17,000 worth of housing and council tax benefit and made false representations to Hammersmith and Fulham Council last year.

2. She also admitted to forging a Halifax Bank statement that was presented to letting agents ‘Lets’s Do Business’, and falsely claimed the name of an account holder into which benefits were deposited.

3. She admitted making false representations to landlords Alex and Alix Lentjes over their property in Shepherd’s Bush, and to landlord Benjamin Hutton over his property in Hammersmith last year. The episode left Mr Lentjes £7,685 out of pocket and with a damaged flat following her eviction on 3rd October 2008.

4. She told the landlords that she earned £96,000 a year as creative director of a fashion company ‘Moksa’ and owned a £3m Chelsea home with a husband who earned £100,000 a week as a property developer. The prosecution said her ‘husband’ turned out to be an American, Francesco Miccolupo, who Damji had a fling with and had his bank account used behind his back.

5. The prosecution said that when Farah Damji rented the room for £350 per week, she was very edgy about providing reference details and threatened a libel action against the letting agents she described as “liars”. She even advertised her place for £400 per week online, behind her landlord’s back.

6. An associate of Ms Damji, Michael Hill, had his signature forged on one document he purported to witness.

Farah Damji was eventually arrested by police on 27th October 2008.

Her lawyer, Nick Wrack, claimed that his client was on income support at all times and was entitled to housing benefit. He also said she had to invent a new identity to hide her infamous criminal past.

He also claimed she was hunting for suitable accommodation to impress the Family Court so she could house her son, Imran (12 yrs old) and daughter Marina (6 yrs old).

“The intention was to obtain tenancy, not expose landlords to loss,” he said.

Judge Aiden Marron, QC, told the court at the hearing: “The prosecution’s case is this defendant orchestrated a planned fraud on landlords and then had the audacity to claim public benefits. She is a relatively sophisticated dishonest woman.”

Farah Damji was then freed on bail. She has to return to court for sentencing at a date agreed by both parties.

Some reports say she will be sentenced following a Newton Hearing which will determine the extent of her dishonesty. Confiscation proceedings will follow.

When asked by reporters for a comment outside court, she reportedly said: “I don’t talk to scum.”