A benefits swindler who pocketed more than £20,000 while participating in numerous running events has been ordered to pay back the money. Sara Morris was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2005 but exaggerated her condition in 2020 to claim Personal Independence Payments (PIP).
The mother-of-three fibbed about the severity of her MS, claiming she couldn’t stand at the cooker, had balance issues and struggled to get out of the bath without help. She also claimed that leaving the house caused her such anxiety that even a trip to the chemist to pick up her medication left her in tears, according to Stoke-on-Trent Live.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard that she received £2,292.63 in PIP each month. However, she failed to inform the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) that she was actually a member of the Stone Master Marathoners and regularly participated in 5km and 10km races.
Her own Facebook posts of her running exposed her deceit. Morris, from Walton Way, Stone, was overpaid by £20,528.83 between October 20, 2020 and April 25, 2023. She admitted to dishonestly making a false statement to obtain a benefit and was sentenced to eight months in prison last July.
The 50-year-old reappeared at the same court for a Proceeds of Crime hearing. Judge Graeme Smith was informed that Morris profited from her criminality by £22,386.02 and the available amount was £60,000.
He ordered Morris to repay £22,386.02 within 28 days or face nine months in prison.
The court was electrified as surveillance footage captured Morris sprinting with agility in a five-mile contest, belying her claim of severe disability. Prosecutor Regan Walters revealed, “On February 5 she took part in a five-mile race and was seen running without assistance and showed no signs of balance problems. On February 11 she was seen running with the Stone Master Marathoners and showed no signs of discomfort.”
Moreover, Regan Walters disclosed a stunning tally of athletic endeavours, noting that Morris had competed in an astounding 73 races between May 2019 and December 2022.
Finally cornered, Morris conceded in a May 11 interview that her condition fluctuated, yet she selected her most incapacitated day to complete the PIP paperwork. Defence barrister, Paul Cliff, painted a poignant picture of a life marred by MS for 19 years, a period marked by intermittent episodes of distress.
Clarifying further, Mr Cliff asserted: “But it is accepted by her that the application did not give the full picture. It crossed over into the realms of dishonesty.”
Cliff went on to detail the personal misfortunes befalling Morris, underscoring her frugal existence despite her alleged fraudulence. Drawing attention to her personal strife, he elaborated on her financial woes, forcing her to relinquish her abode amid monetary turmoil.
As Mr Cliff lamented: “She lost her home because of financial problems and was struggling to keep her head above water financially.”
Paul Cliff’s narrative came full circle with a sombre admission of his client’s transgression regarding her benefit claim, saying: “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.”
Morris is also required to pay an additional surcharge of £187.
Discover more from PressNewsAgency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.