Woman ‘caught doing 5k runs despite claiming £67,000 in mobility benefit’
A woman is on trial for suspected benefits fraud after it was discovered she was running regular 5ks – while claiming she could barely walk without support.
Perth Sheriff Court heard how silversmith Annette Bond spent nearly a decade conning taxpayers out of £67,062.50, despite being able-bodied.
Bond claimed her mobility was ‘severely’ impaired by her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in 2004.
Bond’s mother, Elizabeth Bond, 68, told the jury her daughter exercised regularly to fight the condition.
Jurors at Perth Sheriff Court were shown video footage of Bond leaving her home in the Perthshire village of Stanley in high visibility running gear to carry out 5k runs around her neighbourhood – in less than 30 minutes.
Department of Work and Pensions fraud investigator Scott Hodge, 54, said the team eventually quit the surveillance operation early because they had gathered so much damning evidence against Bond.
He told the court that the team parked in view of Bond’s home and filmed her running the same route three times in a ten-day period in 2017.
Mr Hodge said: ‘She is walking briskly and then she turns at the junction and begins to run. That road was taking her away from Stanley and into a wooded area.’
‘I have gone ahead of the subject and then captured footage of her running along the road back into Stanley. It would have been hills, ascents and descents, at various different parts of the journey.
‘We used an internet website to ascertain the distance. The estimated distance run was 4,800 metres – just short of three miles.’
Mr Hodge told the court that Bond had completed the runs without any support from anyone else, had not been unsteady on her feet, and did not appear to be impaired.
He said the team had been granted a warrant to carry out the surveillance operation between May 30 and August 29, 2017, but brought it to a premature conclusion after less than two weeks.
Mr Hodge added: ‘It was felt that we would probably just see more of the same over the following days, so the decision was taken to end surveillance.’
He said Bond’s confident running – often alongside passing cars on main roads around the Perthshire village – was at odds with the claims she had made about her condition.
On her claim form, she stated ‘I prefer someone with me at all times when I am outdoors because I have poor balance. There is a risk of falling and dizzy spells.’
Bond’s mother told the court: ‘I occasionally saw her when I was on the way to work. She was out running. I was very pleased to see she was fit enough to run.
‘It was most mornings on my way to work. For months. She seemed to walk quite well. She was exercising to try and strengthen her legs.
‘I think she had a running machine in her house. I think it was a cross-trainer she had as well.’
The court also heard from a work colleague that Bond had been seen dancing during a Christmas night out.
No-one was helping to support her and she was not wearing any leg braces or similar equipment, the jury was told.
Jurors also heard Bond had not reported any change in her circumstances to the Department of Work and Pensions between June 2004 and November 2018.
Bond, 49, denies fraudulently obtaining £67,062.50 in benefits from April 2009 until November 2018.
She also denies failing to tell the DWP about a change in her condition which meant her support needs and physical ability had improved.
Her claims were for Disability Living Allowance ‘enhanced care’ and ‘enhanced mobility’ payments.
The trial, before Sheriff William Wood, continues.
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