A woman claimed more than £20,000 ($25,906.90 USD) in benefits for ‘severe’ Multiple Sclerosis was caught out in her lies after being spotted running marathons. 49-year-old Sara Morris, from Stone, Staffordshire, exaggerated the extent of her condition and claimed too much Personal Independence Payment (PIP) from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) in 2020.
She was later spotted running 5km, 10km, and marathon races competitively, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard. Between October 20 2020 to April 25 2023 she was overpaid £20,528.83 and competed in 73 races between May 2019 and December 2022. Prosecutor Regan Walters told the court: ‘The benefit was paid on the basis she would notify the DWP of any changes which affected the amount of benefits. The defendant signed and dated the PIP claim form on November 20, 2020 and signed the declaration.
‘On January 21, 2021 she had a face-to-face consultation. The payment was calculated and authorized from that stage.’ The DWP soon found out Morris had been competing in her running events. Recorder Robert Smith said Morris ‘lied through her teeth’ and jailed her for eight months in prison. A proceeds of crime hearing will be held on November 25.