Ryan Scott, 39, from Torquay, Devon, was sentenced at Exeter Magistrates Court on Thursday after he failed to notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that his health had improved. The court heard that Scott, a plasterer, had been claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) following a workplace accident, but was later found to have completed a 10k run and returned to work on building sites.
The fraudulent overpayment was calculated at £7,625.68, spanning from 31 May 2023 to 7 April 2024. Scott was ordered to complete 15 days of community service and pay £360 in fine, costs and victim surcharge.
Anonymous tip-off led to investigation
Scott's initial claim had been approved after he described severe mobility problems. He told assessors he was "too weak" to lift a phone, struggled to walk more than 20 metres without help, and found everyday tasks like lifting pans from the oven or opening twist-top lids difficult and painful.
But an anonymous tip-off to the DWP's fraud hotline triggered an investigation. Investigators discovered photographs of Scott finishing a 10k race, alongside bank records showing he had been receiving payments for plastering work.
Surveillance footage contradicted claim
Surveillance officers then conducted a multi-day operation in March 2024. The footage, shown to magistrates, depicted Scott climbing ladders, carrying heavy equipment and plastering walls with apparent ease – all activities that directly contradicted his claimed disabilities.
The court heard that Scott's health and mobility had improved around May 2023. On 22 June 2023, he paid the entry fee for a 10k race, which he completed a month later. He failed to report this change in circumstances, and his PIP payments continued to be paid directly into his Monza bank account.
Overpayment and repayment
Following the investigation, the DWP reassessed Scott's claim and determined he was not entitled to PIP from 31 May 2023 to 7 April 2024. The total overpayment of £7,625.68 was identified, and Scott had already begun repaying the money, the court was told.
When interviewed, Scott told fraud investigators that he had felt well enough to consider a 10k run rather than improving in the gym, but insisted it had "not been done with ease". He added: "It took a long time for me to do and I was in bed for two weeks afterwards."
Scott's apology
Speaking directly to the magistrates, Scott apologised for the trouble he had caused. He said: "At the time I was taking a lot of medication. I slipped into deep depression." He explained that he had been going back to work not because he was fully able, but because a friend had been picking him up and taking him in.
"I did not think at the time what I was doing. I was not in a good place. It was unintentional and I would like to apologise for that," he told the court.
Sentence and DWP warning
The magistrates accepted that there was "no reason" to believe Scott's claim had been false from the beginning, and noted he had no relevant previous convictions. They handed him a 15-day community order and ordered him to pay £360 in total financial penalties.
After the sentencing, a DWP spokesperson said: "Benefit fraud is not a victimless crime – it steals money from the people who need it most. Whatever your reasons for cheating the system, know that our investigators are wise to every trick in the book and we will find you."
The spokesperson added: "So, if you know someone is playing the system, turn them in."
