A lady who claimed 1000’s in incapacity advantages however was once noticed within the saddle and strolling a horse has been convicted, having attempted to “take the taxpayer for a trip”.
Michelle Hanney, from Greasbrough, Rotherham, pleaded responsible to fraudulent process, at Sheffield Magistrates’ Courtroom. The 51-year-old was once “stuck stealing £33,711.24 in advantages”, the dept for paintings and pensions (DWP) stated, however was once convicted on a lesser quantity of £10,384.50.
A DWP spokesman stated Hanney, who claimed non-public independence cost and common credit score, had stated she may just simplest stroll between 20m and 50m, and had to make use of a wheelchair when she went out of doors.
“However DWP investigators noticed Fb photos appearing her strolling with none aids and using a horse, with follow-up surveillance appearing her strolling the pony,” the spokesman stated.
Pictured Michelle Hanney.
The fraudulent process to which Hanney pleaded responsible involved the time between 1 Would possibly 2021 to 30 August 2022. She was once sentenced to a 12-month group order, and the DWP will “now take steps to recuperate the entire ill-gotten positive aspects”.
MP Tom Pursglove, the minister liable for tackling fraud, stated: “Nearly all of incapacity receive advantages claims are proper, and we all know the variation that those advantages could make to folks.
“On the other hand, there’s a small minority of folks out to cheat the gadget. This conviction is every other instance of our relentless focal point on discovering the ones taking the taxpayer for a trip and bringing them to justice.”
The DWP spokesman stated the most recent figures display a ten% drop in fraud and blunder during the last yr, and that during 2022, the DWP introduced a “powerful plan to additional take on fraud and blunder”.
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