Benefits cheat mum ordered to repay €26k after Facebook posts exposed her
A mum who swindled benefits has been told to cough up over €23,000 after her Facebook posts blew her cover. Sara Morris, 50, pocketed the cash while taking part in numerous running events.
The mother-of-three was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2005. But in 2020, she overstated her symptoms and claimed Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
She insisted she couldn't stand at her cooker or get out of a bath without help. She also said that even a simple trip to the chemist for her meds left her in tears.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard she was raking in £2,292.63 in PIP each month, according to Stoke-on-Trent Live. However, she conveniently forgot to tell the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) that she was actually a member of the Stone Master Marathoners and regularly ran 5km and 10km races.
Her own Facebook posts showing her running were her downfall, reports the Mirror.
Morris, from Walton Way, Stone, was overpaid by £20,528.83 between October 20, 2020 and April 25, 2023. She admitted to dishonestly making a false statement to obtain a benefit and was put behind bars for eight months last July.
She's now been back in court for a Proceeds of Crime hearing. Judge Graeme Smith heard that Morris had profited by £22,386.02 from her criminal actions.
He ordered Morris to repay £22,386.02 within 28 days or face nine months in prison.
The court was briefed on surveillance conducted on Morris from February 5 to February 20, 2023. Prosecutor Regan Walters noted: "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."
Investigators found that Morris had taken part in 73 races between May 2019 and December 2022. When interviewed on May 11, 2023, Morris claimed her MS symptoms, including fatigue, had worsened.
However, she confirmed that she had joined the Stone Master Marathoners running club before filing her claim. She also acknowledged that the PIP form she submitted reflected her condition on her worst day.
Defence lawyer Paul Cliff mentioned that Morris has had MS for 19 years and the severity varies over time. He stated: "But it is accepted by her that the application did not give the full picture. It crossed over into the realms of dishonesty."
Cliff revealed that Morris's marriage had deteriorated in early 2020 and dismissed the notion that she led an opulent life through her deceitful claim. "She lost her home because of financial problems and was struggling to keep her head above water financially," he added.
"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 is also required to pay a surcharge of £187.
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