Stoke-on-Trent benefits cheat mum caught out by her own Facebook posts while running marathons

ITV News

2 days ago

A mother from Stoke-on-Trent who falsely claimed more than £20,000 in benefits while posting social media pictures of her running marathons, has been ordered to repay the money.
Sara Morris, 50 and from Stone, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005. But in 2020 she exaggerated the extent of her condition and claimed Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
The mother-of-three lied about the extent of her condition, saying she wasn't able to stand at the cooker, lacked balance and had difficulties getting out of the bath unassisted.She also claimed to be anxious when she left the house, saying a trip to the pharmacy to collect her medication left her in tears.Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard she was paid £2,292.63 in PIP a month.
But she failed to inform the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that she was a member of the Stone Master Marathoners, and regularly ran 5km and 10km races.She was caught out by her own Facebook posts of her running.
Morris was overpaid £20,528.83 in benefits between October 20th 2020 and April 25th 2023.
She pleaded guilty to dishonestly making a false statement to obtain a benefit, and was jailed for eight months last July.She has now re-appeared at the same court for a Proceeds of Crime hearing.
Judge Graeme Smith was told Morris benefited from her criminality by £22,386.02, and the available amount was £60,000.
Morris was ordered to repay £22,386.02 within 28 days, or serve nine months in prison in default.
"She took part in a five-mile race" The court heard investigators carried out surveillance on Morris from February 5th to February 20th 2023.
Prosecutor Regan Walters said "On February 5 she took part in a five-mile race and was seen running without assistance and showed no signs of balance problems.
"On February 11 she was seen running with the Stone Master Marathoners and showed no signs of discomfort."The investigation found that Morris had competed in 73 races between May 2019 and December 2022.
"It crossed over into the realms of dishonesty" Morris was interviewed on May 11th 2023 and said her multiple sclerosis had worsened, and that she was suffering from fatigue.
But she confirmed she had been a member of Stone Master Marathoners running club before making her claim, adding that she had filled in her PIP form on her worst day.Paul Cliff, mitigating, said Morris was diagnosed with MS 19 years ago and the "severity of its impact ebbs and flows to a degree"'.
.Mr Cliff said "But it is accepted by her that the application did not give the full picture. It crossed over into the realms of dishonesty."He said Morris's marriage broke down in the spring of 2020, and said she did not enjoy a lavish lifestyle through her fraudulent claim.
Mr Cliff said "She lost her home because of financial problems and was struggling to keep her head above water financially."The application did not give the full picture. She did say running was one of the ways she tried to manage her MS.
"She has found it difficult to come to terms with her dishonesty."Morris must also pay a £187 surcharge.