Bungee jumping, cleaner who claimed £21k for a ‘bad back’
a tHrILL-seeKInG fraudster who tried to claim compensation for a bogus work injury was caught out when she was spotted doing a bungee jump on a reality tV show.
Mother-of-two noreen Murray, 31, said she was barely able to walk after she suffered a severe back injury while lifting a heavy bag of laundry.
Her solicitors told insureres that the incident in October 2013 had left her bed-bound for weeks afterwards and that she couldn’t stand for longer than 30 minutes.
as a result, Murray was in line for a payout of more than £21,475 for loss of earnings and damages. However, having made
‘Foolish enterprise’
the injury compensation claim in February 2014, a clip emerged showing her leaping off a bridge in spain and swinging through the air – just 19 days after her supposed injury.
she had joined the Channel 4 show, in which passengers travel round europe on a coach competing to stay on the trip, shortly after leaving her job at Blue rainbow apartments.
On completion of the bridge swing in Valencia, she says: ‘that was the best thing I’ve ever done.’ Murray had also signed a form declaring herself fit for all activities four days after her ‘injury’.
Prosecuting, Iain simpkin told the court yesterday that liability for the claim was originally accepted by aviva, but then it made further enquiries. In september 2015, Murray’s solicitor offered a £6,500 settlement.
But shortly afterwards, Mr simpkin told the court, the Coach trip film came to light. He added: ‘she took part in a bridge swing. she was harnessed to jump off a bridge, swing out under the bridge and was pulled up again.’
at Manchester Crown Court, Murray, from salford, admitted fraud by false rep- resentation. she was sentenced to ten months in jail, suspended for two years. she was also handed a curfew and ordered to pay a £100 surcharge.
It was accepted by the prosecution that Murray does have some spine degeneration, but that this was historic.
Judge Martin rudland told her: ‘this is a very unfortunate chapter in your life and was a foolish enterprise.’