A BENEFITS fraudster claimed over £17,000 worth of disability payments which she was not entitled to, a court heard.

Lesley Green, of Maple Avenue in Ulverston, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court on March 13 after pleading guilty to dishonestly failing to notify a change in circumstances affecting entitlement to benefit.

Prosecutor Rosalind Scott Bell said Green completed a Personal Independent Payment (PIP) Questionnaire form seeking benefits for her lower back pain and osteoarthritis on March 6 2016.

Ms Scott Bell told the court the 54-year-old defendant required assistance in getting changed, preparing meals, carrying food shopping and that she could not walk more than 20 metres at a time.

The court heard Green underwent a medical examination and was deemed suitable to receive such benefits.

She was also told to update the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if her circumstances changed, the court was told.

This was reiterated to the defendant in a letter she received on January 29 2019, the court heard.

Ms Scott Bell explained the defendant was subjected to surveillance from the DWP between February 17 – February 28 in 2020.

She said investigators witnessed the defendant walking for half a mile, carrying shopping, walking steep gradients, as well as walking down hill. 

The court heard Green was investigated again between October 10 – 21 2022.

On that occasion, they witnessed the defendant leaving her home address, navigating steep inclines and walking two small dogs on a lead. She was also seen out shopping and carrying shopping bags, the court was told.

As a result the DWP concluded that Green was showing no sign of any mobility constraints, the court heard.

Ms Scott Bell consequently said the defendant had failed to disclose that her means had improved.

In total £17,806.86p was fraudulently claimed between February 17 2020 – November 23 2022, the court heard.

When questioned about this, the court heard the defendant said she had been encouraged by her doctor to walk after she had broken her pelvis. She also said she was in receipt of carers allowance as she was a carer for her husband.

In mitigation, David Trainor said Green was a lady of good character with no previous convictions.

Mr Trainor added: “The loss of her good character is a punishment in itself. Probation have deemed that she is of low risk of re-offending and low risk of harm to the public. There is very little probation can do to work with her.

“She has been repaying the money at £25 per week since October 2022."

Recorder William Beardmore accepted the loss of the defendant’s good character was significant. He sentenced Green to a six month suspended sentence for 12 months with no punitive requirements.

He said: “You have a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and there is strong mitigation in your case.

"Immediate custody would have a detrimental impact on the people you care for. I hope this is the last time you enter a Crown Court.”