Benefits cheat mum jailed after marathon photos revealed eye-watering £20K scam

A deceitful benefits cheat mum landed in the slammer for eight months after a series of shocking Facebook snaps exposed her scam.

Sara Morris, 49, spun a yarn about being so disabled that she couldn't even stand at the stove, had trouble keeping her balance and couldn't climb out of the bath without assistance, all to pocket Personal Independence Payment.

She further fibbed that her anxiety was so crippling that picking up her multiple sclerosis meds from the pharmacy would leave her in floods of tears.

Thanks to her tall tales, Morris bagged the 'enhanced rate' of PIP dough, usually reserved for those confined to wheelchairs or missing their legs.

But the 49-year-old was actually lacing up for 5km, 10km, and marathon races, with her web of lies unravelling after she flaunted her running exploits on social media.

Facebook and Instagram snaps showed a completely different picture of Morris, who runs with Stone Master Marathoners, as she grinned at a camera mid-race and snapping selfies.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard how the mother of three, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005, conned an eye-watering £2,292.63 monthly in PIP by overplaying her condition.

She swindled a whopping £20,528.83 from October 20, 2020, to April 25, 2023, before being sentenced to eight months in prison.

Prosecuting barrister Regan Walters announced in court: "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."

Court records show surveillance of Morris from February 5 to February 20, 2023, revealed an active lifestyle.

Prosecutor Walters added: "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."

Morris's marathon tally was said to be a staggering 73 races between May 2019 and December 2022.

Her defence attorney, Paul Cliff, conceded that while Morris has been managing MS for 19 years and its severity is variable, she accepted that her benefit application did not provide a complete account of her condition.

Mr Cliff said: "But it is accepted by her that the application did not give the full picture. It crossed over into the realms of dishonesty."

Recorder Judge Robert Smith condemned the deceit and said: "You told lies about the severity of your condition. You set out to defraud the taxpayer of significant sums of money and your lies meant you were awarded the enhanced rate. You were awarded the rate for somebody who cannot walk for one single metre. It is awarded to people who are wheelchair bound or have no legs at all."

"You were regularly running and competing in organised running events. This was a planned, professional and deliberate fraud. You lied through your teeth and severely exaggerated your condition to receive payment."

The court has set a date for a proceeds of crime hearing on November 25.