'Disabled' claimant taught dance

A woman who taught at her own line dancing school while claiming almost £23,000 in disability benefits has been given an 11-month suspended sentence.

Jay Somers, 49, from Birkdale, near Southport, Merseyside, said she could only walk a few yards without a stick.

But, she was teaching line dancing and was a door supervisor at a Preston nightclub, Liverpool Crown Court heard.

Somers admitted failing to tell the authorities of changed circumstances and submitting false benefit claims.

The court heard she had a photo of herself printed on flyers for her dancing class and was only caught when investigators discovered her second supervisor job.

The public have to be protected from this kind of dishonesty Judge Elgan Edwards

Kevin Slack, prosecuting, said Somers began claiming Disability Living Allowance on the basis her mobility was restricted and she needed caring for at home.

She also claimed income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit totalling £22,796.75p.

'A great exaggeration'

The initial claim was legitimate, but by December 2001 she had recovered but continued claiming, Mr Slack said.

"By this time the defendant had begun to hold line dancing classes at Birchley St Mary's club in Billinge," Mr Slack added.

"The one-and-a-half-hour classes each Tuesday included the defendant demonstrating line dancing moves and taking part.

"She stated she required the use of a stick to walk and needed someone to hold on to her while walking outdoors.

"This was a great exaggeration of the true position."

In April 2003 Somers also began working as a door supervisor at Tokyo Joe's nightclub in Preston, Mr Slack added.

'Sad life'

Teresa Loftus, mitigating, said Somers had now got herself a £180-a-week job and was paying back the illegally-claimed benefits.

Ms Loftus added the defendant had been deeply affected by her son's suicide in 2003 and was working to pay off debts he had run up buying drugs.

Somers pleaded guilty to four counts of failing to notify the Department of Work and Pensions of a change in circumstances and submitting false benefit claims between 2001 and 2006.

Judge Elgan Edwards said: "The public have to be protected from this kind of dishonesty, and although you have had a sad life you have to be aware normally custodial sentences are imposed for cases of this nature."