A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) cheat who fraudulently claimed £25,000 by pretending to be housebound has been jailed after being photographed running a 10-kilometre race. Helen Green, 49, successfully claimed Personal Independence Payment (PIP) by stating she suffered from severe rheumatoid arthritis in every joint and a slipped disc. She told the DWP she could barely feed herself, rarely left the house, and could not walk for more than five minutes without crutches.
Caught on Camera
However, photographs from a 10k race showed her competently running without any assistance. Security footage from her gym also captured her participating in Zumba, Body Combat, Body Pump, Core Blast, and Spin classes. Shrewsbury Crown Court heard that Green was initially accused of falsely claiming £42,013, but she pleaded guilty to an amended charge of £25,244.
Investigation and Sentencing
The DWP launched an investigation after receiving a tip-off through their fraud hotline. Labour Party Minister for Transformation, Andrew Western, stated: “This is a slap in the face to taxpayers and genuine claimants who depend on PIP to live their lives. Helen Green wasn’t just burning calories at the gym; she was also peddling lies, and our investigators caught up with her. Let this be a warning – you can’t outrun the DWP.”
Mandy Tobias of the Crown Prosecution Service added: “Helen Green pretended she had limited movement, but instead was a regular runner and active in gym classes. She did this for her own greed and lined her pockets with fraudulently obtained money. The Crown Prosecution Service presented strong evidence thanks to the DWP’s investigation, resulting in her guilty plea.”
