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Benefit Cheat Who Claimed She Could Barely Walk Caught Running 10k
Helen Green received a seven-month sentence after investigators used race photos and gym footage to show she was active while claiming housebound benefits.
On Tuesday, Helen Green was jailed for seven months at Shrewsbury Crown Court after pleading guilty to dishonestly failing to notify the Department for Work and Pensions of a change in her circumstances.
Between January 2020 and March 2023, Green claimed £25,244 in Personal Independence Payment benefits, falsely telling officials she suffered from severe rheumatoid arthritis that left her unable to walk without crutches.
Investigators exposed the deception after footage emerged of Green participating in Body Combat and Zumba classes, alongside photographs showing her completing a 10k race without assistance.
Minister for Transformation Andrew Western described the deception as a "slap in the face to taxpayers," adding that "Helen Green wasn't just burning calories at the gym, she was also peddling lies."
Western stated the case serves as a warning that "you can't outrun the DWP," emphasizing the department's effective use of investigation work to recover fraudulently obtained funds.