Ellie Ames 17 February 2025

Man posing as Greggs worker scams council out of £710,000

Man posing as Greggs worker scams council out of £710,000 image
Image: Crown Prosecution Service

A man has been convicted after he posed as a Greggs manager to con Leeds City Council out of grants designed to help small businesses during the pandemic.

In May 2020, Aftab Baig, 47 from Glasgow, contacted the local authority and claimed he worked at Greggs’ head office in order to find out business rates numbers for 32 branches of the fast food chain.

Mr Baig, who had no links to Greggs and was not employed by them, used the details to apply for rates relief to the tune of £710,000, which was paid into a bank account associated with his catering business.

Leeds City Council said it was a ‘brazen and calculated act of fraud’.

Mr Baig was found guilty of three counts of fraud at Leeds Crown Court on 12 February.

Most of the money has been returned to the council but more than £90,000 was left outstanding.

A council spokesperson said: ‘This money was intended to support local businesses in Leeds at a time when they were facing unprecedented pressures and when the city and its communities were coming together to get through the pandemic.

‘For someone to take advantage of such challenging circumstances and defraud the public purse is shocking and we would like to thank all those involved in this investigation for helping to ensure justice has been served.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Corporate Director Children and Young People’s Service

North Yorkshire Council
£136,853 to £159,178 plus relocation support
North Yorkshire is England's largest county and a beautiful, vibrant place to live and work. Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Customer Service Assistant

Essex County Council
Up to £12541.00 per annum
Customer Service AssistantPermanent, Part Time£12,541 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Executive Director of Communications and Engagement

City of London
Competitive Salary
This role requires strategic vision, operational excellence, and political acumen London (City of), London (Greater)
Recuriter: City of London

Support Worker

Oxfordshire County Council
£25992 - £28163
You will be supporting adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs, ageing needs and dementia. This is a frontline role where you will be providing high quality and meaningful activities, medication support, personal care, food and drink prepar Oxford
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

Community Support Worker

Essex County Council
£25395.0000 - £32131.0000 per annum
The Role As a Community Support Worker, your role will include undertaking Assessments and Reviews in line with our Statutory duties under the Care England, Essex, Clacton-On-Sea
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner