Fraudster stole £10,000 benefits

Ann Jones had claimed it took her 10 minutes to walk 20 yards

A woman who claimed she could barely move but was secretly filmed walking freely has been given a suspended six-month sentence for benefit fraud.

Ann Jones, 55, of Elliot Road, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, admitted stealing £10,000 in benefits.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard she had played bowls three times a week in the Staffordshire County Ladies League.

The court heard she had used the money she had claimed to help her and her husband pay off debts.

She was ordered to pay back the money she claimed.

'Fund a lifestyle'

Outside court, she said: "It started off genuine and I just didn't say that I was getting a bit better and I'll be forever sorry."

Sian Fellowes, fraud manager for the Department for Work and Pensions, said: "She was using money that should be used to help her live, to help her get around to help mitigate her physical incapacity.

"She was using it really to fund a lifestyle and including a sporting hobby.

"It's not a huge crime in the financial sense but it's still theft against the tax payer, it's wrong and we will do all we can to try and stamp it out."