Overview

• Aftab Baig, 47, was sentenced to four years in prison for defrauding Leeds City Council of £710,000 during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Baig impersonated a Greggs property manager using a fake corporate email to obtain business rates information for 32 Leeds locations.
• The fraudulent funds were disbursed through the government’s Small Business Grant Fund, intended to support businesses during lockdown.
• Most of the stolen money was recovered after the fraud was detected within five days, but over £90,000 remains outstanding.
• Judge Guy Kearl condemned the scheme as a 'disgraceful attempt' to exploit public funds during a national crisis, highlighting flaws in emergency funding processes.