Woman who claimed to be Grenfell victim kept in custody

A woman accused of claiming at least £10,000 in handouts by pretending to be a victim of the Grenfell Tower disaster will spend Christmas locked up.

Joyce Msokeri, 46, faces five counts of fraud and one of possessing false identity documents relating to the fire, which killed 71 people in Kensington, west London, on 14 June.

She appeared at Southwark Crown Court sat in a wheelchair wearing a black coat, scarf and headdress but entered no pleas today.

Defending, Susan Meek asked that the matter be put back a second time for further medical reports to be placed before the court. 

She was remanded in custody ahead of a further case management hearing on January 5, 2018. 

Msokeri told the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and various charities that she was living in flat 142 when the tragedy struck, it is claimed.

The Zimbabwean national was put up at the Hilton Hotel and supplied with free clothing, footwear and electronic devices as a result, it is said.

She allegedly created bogus documents to dupe officials into believing she was married to Juna Hanlon and had lived with him at Grenfell Tower from February until 14 June.

Msokeri told the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and various charities that she was living in flat 142  of the tower (pictured) when the tragedy struck, it is claimed

Mskokeri was arrested and interviewed after allegedly making false statements to RBKC between 14 and 29 June.

Prosecutors say she helped herself to more donations by making false statements to HMRC, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and St Charles Hospital whilst on police bail between 30 July and 4 September.

Msokeri is said to have committed the frauds despite being ordered not to enter RBKC as a condition of that bail.

She was arrested at the Hilton Hotel in Kensington on 4 September.