Advantages cheat caught out after being snapped using a horse

Michelle Hanney, a 51-year-old lady, had claimed she might solely stroll brief distances, between 20m (65ft) and 50m (165ft), and relied on a wheelchair when venturing exterior.

As a outcome, she was granted each Personal Independence Payments and Universal Credit, amounting to a staggering £33,711.24 between May 2021 and August of the earlier yr.

However, suspicions had been raised by Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) investigators once they stumbled upon {a photograph} of Hanney atop a horse on Facebook. This discovery prompted a surveillance operation, throughout which additional pictures had been captured of Hanney freely strolling alongside a pony at an area secure.

Hanney, from Rotherham in South Yorkshire, pled responsible to fraudulent exercise at Sheffield Magistrates Court. She was given a 12-month neighborhood order. Although she was prosecuted for a lesser quantity, £10,384.50, the DWP intends to recuperate the complete overpayment of £33,711.24.

Tom Pursglove MP, the minister chargeable for combating fraud, highlighted this conviction as a testomony to the Government’s dedication to cracking down on profit cheats.

He stated: “The vast majority of disability benefit claims are correct, and we know the difference that these benefits can make to people.

“However, there is a small minority of people out to cheat the system.

“This conviction is another example of our relentless focus on finding those taking the taxpayer for a ride and bringing them to justice.”

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