Bulgarian woman jailed for her part in Britains biggest-ever benefits fraud gang could be sent home and reunited with her children in months
A Bulgarian woman who was jailed for her part in Britains biggest-ever benefits fraud gang could reportedly be allowed to reunite with her children this summer.
A Bulgarian woman who was jailed for her part in Britains biggest-ever benefits fraud gang could reportedly be allowed to reunite with her children this summer.
Galina Nikolova, 39, was sent to prison alongside her boyfriend and three other members of the Eastern European gang in May 2024 after they ploughed the UKs welfare system by cheating around £54million of taxpayer cash.
They hijacked 6,000 identities to make claims for Universal Credit and even used the names of children living in Bulgaria as part of the five-year scam.
The fraudsters also set up three benefit factories across London churning out bogus tenancy agreements, counterfeit payslips and forged letters from landlords, employers, and GPs to trick the DWP.
And it has now been revealed that Nikolova, who became eligible for deportation in October 2024 under the early removal scheme, could be kicked out of Britain by the summer, according to The Telegraph.
The accelerated process to remove her is in part due to the length of time she served on remand while awaiting formal sentencing, but also because of government policy allowing foreign criminals to be deported 18-months before their earliest release date.
In this instance, the 39-year-old only had to serve half of her sentence, a date which would be surpassed if deported this summer after being arrested on May 5, 2021.
However, it is believed that when Nikolova returns to her home country, she will not be jailed by Bulgarian authorities and instead be allowed to roam the streets freely and return to her family.
Galina Nikolova (above, right) was sent to prison alongside her boyfriend Stoyan Stoyanov (above, left) and three other gang members after the Eastern European group ploughed the UKs welfare system
They hijacked 6,000 identities to make claims for Universal Credit and even used the names of children living in Bulgaria as part of the five-year scam which saw them cheat around £54million of taxpayer cash
It is believed that when Nikolova returns to her home country, she will not be jailed by Bulgarian authorities and instead be allowed to roam the streets freely and return to her family
Nikolovas representatives say it is only due to the Department for Work and Pensions ongoing attempts to recover the money stolen that she has not yet been booted out.
And until these investigations have ended, Nikolova allegedly cannot be sent back to Bulgaria.
At a hearing at Wood Green Crown Court this week, prosecutors have been urged to be realistic about the sums of money they can reasonably expect to get back from the fraudsters.
Representing Nikolova, Ruby Shrimpton said her client became eligible for deportation in October and had it not been for the continued attempts to recover the funds, that her return to Bulgaria would have already been authorised.
Judge David Aaronberg KC asked Ms Shrimpton whether Nikolova would serve the rest of her sentence in a Bulgarian prison when she was returned, who said she would be at liberty and in a position to look after her children.
The fraudster couple are seen cuddling up together in an earlier snap taken in Palmers Green, London
At a hearing at Wood Green Crown Court this week, prosecutors have been urged to be realistic about the sums of money they can reasonably expect to recover from the gang
The gang raked in the eye-watering sum from Britains biggest ever benefit fraud
The enormous haul of money gained from the claims was laundered through a number of accounts then withdrawn in cash
The judge said he was surprised that the the grifter could be reunited with her children in a matter of months, adding that he anticipated she would be in custody for many years.
Nikolova, 39, and her boyfriend Stoyan Stoyanov, 28, along with Tsvetka Todorova, 53, Gyunesh Ali, 34, and Patritsia Paneva, 27, were arrested in 2021 and jailed for a combined 25 years last May at Wood Green Crown Court.
To date, it is believed that only £1million of the gangs haul has been reclaimed, with the majority of the funds understood to be with people living in Bulgaria.
The group was only uncovered after a Bulgarian police officer notified UK officials about a surprising trend of criminals in the city of Sliven who had noticeably come into large sums of cash.
Nikolovas partner, Stoyanov, has already been released from prison and is waiting for the investigation to finish in order for his deportation to be authorised.
Gyunesh Ali, 34, was also part of the gang and was arrested
Patritsia Paneva, 27, (left) and Tsvetka Todorova, 53, (right) were also arrested
At a previous court hearing, the 28-year-old interrupted proceedings and demanded that he be sent back to Bulgaria as he had a right to live normally again.
He said: Why is it my family, myself and my wife and our three children – all of whom have health issues – why should we all suffer? Dont we have the right to lead a normal life the way normal people do? Where is the fairness in that?
Responding, Judge Aaronberg said Stoyanov did not have that right due to the severity of the crimes committed.
Today, significant members of the gang are being investigated as they are believed to still be operating in the UK.