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By CAITLIN LENG
Published: | Updated:
A benefit cheat who stole £37,000 after claiming she was too ill to ‘wash and bathe’ before being caught pulling pints in a pub has avoided prison.
Tina Farnsworth, 57, lied about her health conditions for three years to receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) at an enhanced rate.
On her PIP claim, Farnsworth alleged she was unable to prepare food, wash or bathe, dress and undress, mix with others, drive, walk more than 50 metres without aid, use public transport or manage her finances without support.
However, an anonymous tip-off brought Farnsworth’s disabilities into doubt, claiming that she worked in several businesses including Pour House 22 and Black Velvet Bar in Barnsley.
Evidence found through social media and surveillance corroborated the claims – showing her cooking at the pubs, lifting heavy items, walking and even flying to Dublin and Florida without special assistance.
Video footage from 2024 shows Farnsworth pulling and serving pints, lifting wine glasses from an overhead rack, and bringing pints of beer to customers.
She was also captured lifting items into the boot of a car unassisted.
When Farnsworth spoke to investigators, she claimed her PIP application was based on her worst days, and said evidence gathered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) was not an accurate representation of her day-to-day health.
For three years, Tina Farnsworth lied about her health conditions to receive Personal Independence Payment at an enhanced rate
An anonymous tip-off brought Farnsworth’s disabilities into doubt, claiming that she worked in several businesses
Farnsworth was found guilty of £37,089 worth of PIP fraud between August 2019 and March 2024
Video footage captured Farnsworth lifting items into a boot of a car unassisted
On Friday, Farnsworth was found guilty of £37,089 worth of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) fraud between August 2019 and March 2024 at Sheffield Crown Court and handed a suspended sentence.
She will also receive a Loss of Benefit Penalty for a minimum of 13 weeks, if she is eligible for a benefit.
The DWP has confirmed it will seek to recover the fraudulently obtained funds via the Proceeds of Crime Act legislation and other debt recovery measures where appropriate.
Andrew Western, Minister for Transformation, said: ‘The message is clear – don’t think you can steal from hardworking taxpayers.
‘Whatever your reasons for committing benefit fraud, know that our investigators are wise to every trick in the book and we will find you.
‘And if you know somebody is fleecing the system, report it.’
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