- Anne Bird was seen running, jumping, stretching and bending in classes
- But she had told DWP she was too disabled to dress or have a bath
- Prosecutors filmed her doing Pilates and circuit training after tip-off
- 60-year-old received suspended sentence and has paid money back
A gym-loving benefit cheat who stole £21,000 after claiming she was too disabled to dress herself has been prosecuted after she was filmed working out.
Anne Bird, 60, was seen running, jumping and bending by investigators tipped off that the claimant had been going to circuit training, Spinning classes and Pilates for six years.
Bird was handed a 12 week suspended jail sentence at Walsall Magistrates Court.
Investigators set up a surveillance operation to monitor her exercise regime before prosecuting her, and found that she enjoyed strenuous exercise.
Maggie Meakin, prosecuting, told Walsall Magistrates Court that the defendant was overpaid by a total of £21,109 after making false declaration on claim forms to obtain disability allowance.
'It was confirmed by a doctor that she has osteoarthritis and that she needs help to bathe and dress, and needed help to walk,' she said.
'She then applied for the higher rate of disability living allowance claiming at this point that she needed help as she had problems with her knees and hips.
'The department was made aware that from October 2006 to August 2012 she was attending Bloxwich Leisure Centre and was participating in group exercise including pilates and circuit training. She then upgraded her membership to sessions which included aerobics.
'In witness statements the staff said they were aware she had problems with her knee, but she took part in spinning bike classes.'
Bird, of Pleck, suffers from osteoarthritis in her legs and rheumatoid arthritis in her hands.
She was entitled to some benefits, but not the full amount that was paid to her.
She had previously denied two counts of dishonestly making a false statement to obtain a benefit, but changed to guilty pleas earlier this week ahead of the matter going to trial.
In sentencing her on Wednesday, magistrates jailed her for 12 weeks suspended for 12 months and handed her a six-month supervision order with probation.
She was also ordered to pay £300 costs and victims' surcharge £80.
Lee Preston, defending, said she had already repaid the money. 'She borrowed and also used her pension lump sum to repay the money.
'Her condition is degenerative. She will get less and less mobile as time goes on.
'The sums have long been repaid. She was following advice from her doctor and physiotherapist to exercise as much as possible.
'It is unlikely that she will ever appear before the courts again.'
Shame: The cheat was also filmed doing rigorous sit-ups and press ups while balancing on a fitness ball
Zaynab Tarajia, representing the probation service, said Bird was unsuitable for carrying out unpaid work in the community due to her continuing health issues.
She told the court Bird had explained that she had followed her GP's advice to exercise.
She said: 'She admits that on occasion she exercised more than she needed to do and admits that she should have told the DWP about her improved health as she would have been entitled to benefits, but less than she received. She is extremely remorseful of her actions.'
Bird is in receipt of carers' allowance regarding her husband's care and is now set to get advice over the correct benefits that she should be claiming for her own illness.
0 comments :
Post a Comment