A supermarket worker who dishonestly claimed more than £28,000 in Personal Independence Payment (PIP) benefits has been brought to justice after covert surveillance footage exposed her lies about her mobility.
Fraudulent Claims Over Two-Year Period
Joanne Norris, from Folkestone, had initially legitimately received the highest rate of PIP following a back injury that she said limited her walking to just 20 metres. However, prosecutors told Folkestone Magistrates' Court that after her condition improved, she continued to renew her claim.
She dishonestly failed to notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) of a change in her circumstances over a two-year period from May 2022 to May 2024. During a renewal in 2022, she explicitly stated that nothing about her condition had changed.
Undercover Footage Reveals the Truth
The fraud unravelled when the DWP's investigation team obtained undercover video evidence. The secret recordings showed Norris carrying out "a number of tasks" that she had previously declared she was unable to perform, directly contradicting the basis of her PIP claim.
Julie Farbrace, prosecuting, stated the footage was pivotal in proving the offence. Norris subsequently pleaded guilty to the charge in October.
Court Sentencing and Repayment
In her defence, solicitor Nigel Riley explained that Norris's original claim was genuine, stemming from popped discs, multiple operations, sciatica, and depression. He said her mobility improved after acupuncture, leading to fluctuations in her condition.
Riley emphasised that Norris understands the seriousness of her actions, has no previous offences, and entered an early guilty plea. He noted she is now repaying the DWP at a rate of £60 per month.
Despite arguments for a community order, the magistrates handed down a 24-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. The court found she had fraudulently received a total of £28,365.81 to which she was not entitled.
