The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Kickbox star’s mother guilty of benefits fraud
COURT: Woman claimed £22,000 in disability allowance
A Fife woman who claimed her kickboxing champion daughter was too disabled to feed herself has been found guilty of fraudulently claiming benefits.
Carol Black appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court after being charged with claiming more than £22,000 in Disability Living Allowance on behalf of Christianne Fahey.
The 52-year-old, of Cellardyke, refused to accept that she had misled officials from the Department for Work and Pensions about the extent of the child’s health condition between 2012 and 2016.
But when Miss Fahey, who has Asperger syndrome, gave evidence, she told how her mother had a “tendency to exaggerate” her symptoms.
An East Neuk woman has been found guilty of fraudulently claiming disability benefits on behalf of her daughter, who is a junior world champion kickboxer.
Carol Black stood trial at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court accused of failing to declare an improvement in her daughter’s health from 2012-16.
The 52-year-old was originally charged with claiming more than £22,000 in disability living allowance.
Sheriff James Williamson found that the mother of three had “told lies” on an application to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) submitted on behalf of daughter Christianne Fahey.
The court heard how Black’s 27-yearold daughter had won various sporting accolades and represented Scotland with the women’s rugby team.
Ms Fahey, who has Asperger’s syndrome among other health conditions, gave evidence. She said her mother had a “tendency to exaggerate” her conditions.
She said: “She would often say that if you’re entitled to something then you should take it.”
“I used the benefits money to fund my sports for my mental health but I didn’t
She would often say that if you’re entitled to something then you should take it
need the higher rate for that. I don’t think it was appropriate.
“There are people who actually need the higher rate of benefits and that’s why I think I only needed the lower rate. Some of the examples that she put on the forms are ridiculous.”
In giving her own evidence, Black said her daughter was “exhausted daily” and suffered from “chronic pain”.
When asked how her daughter managed to carry out all her sporting activities while suffering from the alleged symptoms, Ms Black said: “When it comes to pain, she will not lay down, often to her own detriment.
“If she doesn’t have her sports, she is dangerous to herself and to others.”
When depute fiscal Nicola Henderson asked if she reported any improvements in her daughter’s health to the DWP, Ms Black replied: “How many phone calls would you like me to make? Her condition changed from hour to hour.”
Sheriff James Williamson said: “This is a young woman who has represented her country, who is known as a junior world champion kickboxer, who is a Scottish heavyweight boxing champion that also coaches rugby.
“Yet you described her as someone who can barely stand or hold a cup which frankly beggars belief.”
He accepted however that Ms Fahey did suffer from certain health difficulties that would warrant some form of disability payment but admitted he was not placed to determine the amount.
Sheriff Williamson instead reworded the charge and found Black guilty of obtaining a sum of benefits on behalf of Ms Fahey to which she was not entitled.
He fined Black £300 to be paid within 28 days.