A Bulgarian migrant at the centre of one of Britain's biggest-ever scams is now living on Universal Credit following her release from prison after claiming her case left her feeling "depressed".
Tsvetka Todorova, 54, was handed down a three-year sentence in 2024 for her role in a "well-organised" foreign gang that stole £54million from British taxpayers.
After her release, Todorova returned to London, claiming she receives £1,300 a month in Universal Credit alongside her husband.
The Bulgarian migrant said she will fight to avoid deportation and boasted about her taxpayer-funded lifestyle in an interview with the Daily Mail.
The Bulgarian migrant said she will fight to avoid deportation and boasted about her taxpayer-funded lifestyle
|BTV1
She told the newspaper: "I do not want to leave Britain. My family is here. I love it here, it is good and has helped me.
"I've been back on benefits since December 30. It'll be about £200 a month. I don't have a right to work.
"My husband gets over £1,000 for Universal Credit - I think it's £1,300 - and he gets more as well."
In the aftermath of the interview, the Department of Work and Pensions said it was now "reviewing" the decision to hand even more cash to a woman who "systemically plundered" British taxpayers.
The Department of Work and Pensions said it was now "reviewing" the decision to award her benefits
| PATodorova spoke to Bulgarian media about her experience holed up in HMP Bronzefield, which she gloated was akin to being in a "vacation home".
She told BNT News: "Living conditions in the prison are very good. I never felt like I was in a prison...There is a gym inside. There is a hair salon, I got a manicure there.
"You can do your hair or makeup…There are also educational courses. I even visited an art course inside."
After her release, the 54-year-old is now claiming that both she and her husband are now "depressed" and that she was suffering with bad health.
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The 54-year-old suggested she was confident of her chances of remaining in the country
|CROWN PROSECUTION SERVICE
She told the Daily Mail: "I have had high blood pressure because of the case. My husband also has a lot of back pain.
"My benefits account was closed, now it is opening again."
Todorova and three of her co-conspirators are now on immigration bail awaiting deportation, but the 54-year-old suggested she was confident of her chances of remaining in the country.
She said: "I think I will stay in Britain. They cannot push me. They cannot force me."
The fraudster gang stole more than 6,000 identities to make Universal Credit claims, even using the names of children living in Bulgaria as part of their brazen scheme.
A Government spokesman said: "This was a disgraceful crime against the British public, and we are taking rigorous action to recover the stolen funds.
"We are clear - if those involved in this case do not pay back these funds within the required time they could be sent back to prison and then deported.
"In the case of Ms Todorova, we are currently reviewing the decision to award her Universal Credit."
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