Trivial sentence for £58k benefit fraudster

Jennifer Watson from Widnes received nearly £58,000 in benefits over a five-year period before a tip-off that her account of being unable to take a single step unaided was a lie.

Fraud investigators filmed her undercover and captured her walking a mile without obvious discomfort and even working as a supervisor at a branch of Argos, stacking heavy items on shelves.

But she escaped a jail sentence after a court was told her tough upbringing had left her 'deluded'.

She began legitimately claiming income support in 1995, but seven years later she started claiming for housing and disability benefits as well, stating she had angina, panic attacks and severe arthritis.

Supporting her claim, she stated she needed friends to push her wheelchair, adding: 'I fall over even if I try to walk one step. I think my life has come to an end.'

The application stated she 'dreams of going to bingo, but (has) no-one to take her' and that she 'thinks that her life has come to an end', Warrington Crown Court was told.

'An extremely high level of disability was described, also saying she was unable to cut food, go to the toilet, and she had panic attacks on a daily basis,' said Kevin Slack, prosecuting.

But in April 2003 she had begun working as supervisor at a branch of Co-op, taking home £230 a week. In 2007 she went to work at a local Argos as supervisor - again failing to notify the authorities. Surveillance footage showed her walking more than a mile without assistance, loading up her car following a shopping trip and also working at Argos.

But she appeared on crutches when she was summoned by investigators. She claimed she had 'pushed through the pain barrier' to go to work but admitted she had been wrong to continue claiming disability benefits.

After walking into court unaided, Watson admitted nine charges of failing to declare a change in circumstances. She illegally claimed £57,965, of which she has so far paid back £1,000.

Her barrister argued she had been 'deluded rather than dishonest', having led a hard life including leaving school aged 13 and having the children from her first marriage taken away from her.

However Judge Thomas Teague, QC, told her she was lucky not to be jailed for her con. 'You told the authorities that you were in a wheelchair, you couldn't walk indoors, and that you had a carer to look after you,' he said. 'We are then told you are working at a store as a supervisor and we certainly never saw any proof of the mythical wheelchair. I have my doubts as to how much this was delusional. You have been very fortunate today.'

Watson was given a 24 week prison sentence suspended for two years, a two month supervision order, and a three month overnight curfew.

• People convicted of benefit fraud who don't receive a custodial sentence should have to do unpaid work.
  
  Benefit thieves should also have to repay twice what they've stolen, and should not be eligible for any further benefits – including tax credits - until they have.