A BENEFITS fraudster who claimed she needed help washing and cooking has been caught doing pole dancing.
Angela Elizabeth Claire, 45, fiddled £28,000 in benefits to help her poor physical health but was busted over dancing on social media.
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Clare posted videos of herself pole dancing on TikTok, advertising her £60 per class gig.
She previously claimed taxpayers money in Personal Independence Payment, Employment and Support Allowance as well as housing benefit between 2016 and 2022.
Clare declared that she was unable to cook for herself and required assistance washing and bathing, as well as constant monitoring to take her medication.
Her claims were initially genuine but she failed to notify the authorities of her improved health.
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Clare was caught reviewing a local pole dance studio, saying it had “good vibes that instantly put you at peace”.
The social media clips of her doing splits while pole dancing and hanging upside down contradicted her initial claims of poor health.
Prosecutor Ross McQuillan-Johnson said: “This was a marked difference compared to a number of postings on social media.”
She also provided yoga sessions and on-call teaching on a freelance basis at the cost of £60 per person.
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The court also heard that after Clare won £30,000 on the Postcode Lottery in 2021, but neglected to report the incident to the authorities.
She unlawfully claimed £28,867 in total between January 31, 2020, and September 12, 2022.
Clare, of Abersychan, Pontypool, Gwent, entered a guilty plea to two charges of dishonestly failing to report a change in circumstances to Torfaen Council and the Department of Work and Pensions.
The court was informed that she was of previous good character.
Adam Sharp, defending, said: “She is utterly ashamed by what she had done.”
According to Mr. Sharp, Clare has partially repaid the assistance money.
But he emphasised that she still had long-standing mental health problems in addition to major, underlying medical ailments including losing a breast and needing a stoma bag.
Recorder Robin Rouch gave Clare a sentence of 18 weeks in jail with a 12-month suspension.
She was also given a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement, and a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing will be held in a bid to reclaim some of the money.
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