Mohammed Zarif, 59, of Preston New Road, Blackburn and his 6 family members have appeared before Blackburn magistrates charged in connection with a large scale benefits fraud.

Miss Anisa Zarif, 24, Atif Zarif, 19, Faizal Zarif, 30, Mrs Khalida Zarif, 49, all of Preston New Road, Blackburn, Sakib Zarif, 31, of Redlam, Blackburn, are all charged with conspiracy to defraud the Department of Work and Pensions.

Mohammed Zarif is charged with dishonestly failing to disclose to the DWP that his tenant, Daniel Walker, had died which he was under a legal duty to disclose intending to make a gain by continuing to receive benefits.

Mohammed Sadiq, 45, of Hollin Bridge Street, Blackburn, Khalida Zarif and Sakib Zarif are all charged with theft of £1,671 belonging to Daniel Walker.

David Vincent Neale, 51, of Exeter Street, Blackburn, and Anthony Preece, 46, of Shear Brow, Blackburn, are all charged with conspiracy to defraud. Patrick William Leggat, 43, of Selborne Street, Blackburn is also charged with theft of £1,671 belonging to Daniel Walker.

Anisa Zarif and Atif Zarif are charged with dishonestly failing to disclose there had been an improvement in the health of Sakib Zarif intending to make a gain, namely the continued payment of carers allowance.

Faizal Zarif is charged with dishonestly failing to disclose an improvement in the health of Khalida Zarif and Fozia Zarif intending by that failure to continue receiving carers allowance.

Fozia Zarif is charged with dishonestly failing to disclose an improvement in her health resulting in continued payment of disability living allowance.

All the defendants were sent on bail to Preston Crown Court where they will appear on August 19.