16 July 2024 , 11:19
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A woman claimed more than £20,000 in benefits for ‘severe’ Multiple Sclerosis was caught out in her lies after being spotted running marathons.
Sara Morris, 49, 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 authorised from that stage.’
The DWP soon found out Morris had been competing in her running events.
She enjoyed running while claiming extra benefits (Picture: Instagram/Stone Master Marathoners)
Morris has now been jailed for her crimes (Picture: Stoke Sentinel/BPM Media)
Mr Walters continued: ‘The DWP obtained photographs of the defendant and some Facebook posts taken by Morris herself. She had been taking part in marathons, races and orienteering.
‘The first photo was taken a month after she signed her initial claim form. The defendant can be seen to have been taking part on a competitive run two days prior to making that initial claim.
‘The defendant reported receiving assistance in almost every aspect of her life. She claimed to experience difficulties with her balance adding she struggles to stand and required supervision from her family. She said she required grab rails in the bathroom and assistance with getting dressed.
‘On some days her stress and anxiety led to her being housebound. She added she used a walking stick when she felt tired and unsteady. The defendant exaggerated her issues throughout the claim process.’
When she was interviewed on May 11 2023 she said she was a member of her running club prior to making her PIP claim.
Paul Cliff, mitigating, said Morris was diagnosed with MS 19 years ago and the ‘severity of its impact ebbs and flows to a degree’.
Sara claimed she could barely stand by her cooker because of her MS (Picture: Instagram/Sara Morris)
He said: ‘But it is accepted by her that the application did not give the full picture. It crossed over into the realms of dishonesty.’
He also said she did not experience a lavish lifestyle from the extra money and her marriage broke down in 2020.
‘She lost her home because of financial problems and was struggling to keep her head above water financially,’ Mr Cliff said.
‘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.’
He also said her young children would be impacted if she was jailed.
But 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.