Woman sentenced following social housing fraud conviction

At Guildford Crown Court on 14 July 2026, Janina Marciniak-Kazarian was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order. The order includes a 60-day curfew requiring her to remain at the property between 7pm and 7am. She was also ordered to pay £11,837.52 in prosecution costs, payable by instalments, and a victim surcharge of £95.

The sentence follows her conviction on 1 April 2026, when, following a three-day trial at Guildford Crown Court, a jury unanimously found her guilty of two counts of fraud.

The prosecution established that the defendant failed to declare her ownership of a property in Poland when completing housing application forms and associated declarations.

Had Spelthorne Borough Council been aware of this asset, her application would have been assessed differently, and she would not have been awarded a valuable social housing property.

The jury was satisfied that the non-disclosure was dishonest, deliberate, and intended to improve her chances of securing social housing assistance.

The court heard evidence from local authority officers and investigators, supported by documentary records and application materials. The jury returned guilty verdicts on both counts after just over an hour of deliberation.

Cllr Greg Neall, Chair of the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee, said: "This conviction sends a clear message that we will not tolerate housing fraud in Spelthorne. Social housing is a limited and valuable public resource, and every property obtained dishonestly is one less home available for someone who genuinely needs it. We are committed to protecting our housing stock through proactive investigations and will take robust action against anyone who seeks to abuse the system."

To report a suspected fraud, visit https://www.reportafraud.co.uk/sbc