A woman who defrauded the Government of more than £8,000 in benefits was caught after she was seen walking around and pushing a trolley while shopping in a supermarket.
Annette Phillips was caught out after being seen shopping during surveillance carried out by the Department of Work and Pensions, magistrates heard.
South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court heard how she first claimed the personal independence payment because she struggled with arthritis and could not walk more than 20 metres using a stick.
However, she failed to inform the department of a change in her mobility after she was seen walking around.
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Phillips, of Vulcan Road, Barrow, admitted committing fraud when she appeared before the court.
Prosecutor Lee Dacre said the 54-year-old received £8,010 between June 2022 and June 2023.
The court heard how during this time period, she failed to inform the DWP of her change in circumstances, something she had committed to when signing her initial claims for the disability payment.
Dacre said Phillips had decades-old previous convictions for shoplifting, reports the North-West Evening Mail.
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Mitigating, Karen Templeton proposed the case was not “black and white” adding that Phillips was living with arthritis as well as fibromyalgia.
She said the condition causes the defendant to have limited mobility and experience chronic fatigue. She added that while Phillips was under surveillance there were days when the defendant felt better and went out in the morning.
However, she said Phillips would often sleep in the afternoon having gone out.
Templeton told the court: “It’s very difficult if you’re having a good day to report a change to the DWP…She does accept she’s in the wrong…She is sorry about what happened.”
Phillips was sentenced to a community order with a curfew due to keep her at home between 6pm and 8am for the next 16 weeks.
Magistrates said they had considered a custodial sentence, telling the defendant it was a “serious” offence.
The court was told the DWP was recovering the money from Phillips.
