Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘KARATE KIDDER’
Black belt who got £72k disability benefit was filmed winning gold at martial arts contest, trial told
A WOMAN who claimed £72,000 in disability benefits because she could “only walk a short distance” was secretly filmed winning a gold medal in a karate contest.
Surveillance of black belt
Claire Thomas, 46, revealed she was doing martial arts training three to four times a week, competing in tournaments and winning medals, a court was told.
Thomas had been classed as disabled by the
Department for Work and
Pensions since claiming benefits in 2007. She said she suffered from brittle asthma, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Prosecutor Tim Hills told the jury: “In 2013, she won a bronze and a gold regional medal in karate. News filtered through to the fraud investigators of the Department of Work and Pensions and... surveillance was carried out. There was a regional qualifier taking place in Birmingham and she was filmed taking part, winning a medal and then kissing her husband.” Thomas, of Gloucester, denies seven charges of benefit fraud between June 2007 and December 2013.
It is alleged she was paid about £72,000 in benefits, including £4,256 towards a car for her immobility. She claimed she was living as a single parent, but the DWP alleges she shared a home with husband Kevin Thomas. The trial, at Gloucester crown court, continues.