Lottery winner dishonestly claimed £28,000 in benefits
WOMAN, 45, POSTED VIDEOS OF HERSELF POLE DANCING WHILE RECEIVING DISABILITY PAYMENTS
A WOMAN who claimed £28,000 worth of benefits while claiming to be in physical ill-health posted videos of herself pole-dancing on social media.
She was also running pole-dancing and yoga classes which she advertised online.
Angela Clare, 45, of Pontypool, was in receipt of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and housing benefit between 2016 and 2022. The claims were initially genuine, but the defendant failed to notify a change in her health circumstances.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday, April 4 heard Clare had claimed she was unable to cook for herself, needed assistance washing and bathing, and required constant monitoring to take her medication.
Prosecutor Ross McQuillan-Johnson
said this description was a “marked difference” compared to a number of TikTok videos posted by the defendant, as well as posts on social media sites.
Screenshots were made of these social media posts which depicted Clare hanging upside down and performing the splits while pole-dancing. She also offered services on a freelance basis as an on-call instructor and yoga classes. The beginner classes were charged at £60 per person.
There was a further failure to notify the authorities after Clare won £30,000 on the Postcode Lottery in 2021. The total amount she claimed illegally came to £28,867.
Clare, of British School Close, Abersychan,
pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly failing to notify the Department of Work and Pensions and Torfaen council of a change of circumstances. The court heard she was of previous good character.
In mitigation, Adam Sharp said his client had made some repayments and was “utterly ashamed” of what she had done.
He said the defendant still had underlying and serious medical conditions, including the loss of a breast and the requirement of a stoma bag, as well as long-standing mental health issues. Clare was sentenced to 18 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.
She was also made subject to a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement, and Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings will be instigated against her.