A MATHS teacher who masterminded an £80,000 benefit fraud has not yet paid back a penny of the cash he swindled from the taxpayer more than a year ago.

Hatam Abbas, aged 41, who taught across the North West as a supply teacher, was convicted of conspiracy to defraud and possession of criminal property in December, 2008.

Judge Mark Gosnell, sitting at Bolton Crown Court in October last year, ordered him to pay back the £80,091.20p he had falsely claimed or serve an 18- month prison sentence.

The court heard that Abbas, who founded an Arabic Saturday school in Bolton, planned to repay the cash by selling his house.

However, his case was back at Bolton Magistrates Court this week, as Abbas has not paid back a penny in the last six months. He was not required to attend the hearing.

Abbas, of The Walkway, Ladybridge, has now been given extra time to pay back the money he owes.

He told The Bolton News: “If I’m that bad, why are schools still taking me?

“We’ve been through hell for the last year or so and talking about it is more painful.

“We just want to get on with our lives and move on.”

He said he was talking to his solicitor about the repayment of the cash.

At Abbas’ trial, the jury heard he used a web of fictitious characters, relationships, marriages, jobs and disabilities to falsely claim tens of thousands of pounds in housing benefits and housing renewal applications.

It took investigators from Bolton Council three years to untangle the trail of false claims.

Abbas used the cash to pay off mortgages, buy a Mercedes and refurbish a house.

His wife Nada Abbas, aged 31, and his half-brother Nabil Abbas, aged 34, were given community sentences for their involvement in the fraud.

Bolton Council said Hatam Abbas’ solicitor had applied for extra time to pay because he still needed to sell his property to raise the money.

The council did not oppose the application.

Abbas owes the council a further £70,091.20 in compensation and £38,427 in legal costs.

At the original proceeds of crime hearing in October last year, he was given 12 months to pay these additional amounts.