A welfare fraudster who claimed thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money for lying about not being able to walk has been jailed after a series of shocking photos emerged.
Sara Morris, from Stone in Staffordshire, had applied for the Personal Independence Payment (Pip) after her multiple sclerosis reportedly left her unable to balance, stand up or carry out household tasks – and caused her to suffer from anxiety when leaving her home.
Due to his apparent condition which “severely limited” his ability to carry out basic tasks, Pip had been allocated a premium rate – usually reserved for people “in wheelchairs or without legs at all”.
But a series of images that refute her claims – including those of her taking part in several marathons, races and orienteering races – earned her an eight-month prison sentence.
Morris, a mother of three, was correctly diagnosed with the condition in 2005 – but exaggerated the extent of her MS in 2020 – and claimed £2,292.63 a month in Pip payments, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard.
Sara Morris has been photographed running several marathonsInstagramThen, over a period of just three years, the keen runner was overpaid by £20,528.83 between October 2020 and April 2023.
Although Morris was asked to declare any changes in her status – and given the opportunity to do so, including a face-to-face consultation in 2021 – she continued to receive the payments.
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) investigators later discovered that Morris took part in organised running events and was an active member of a running club, the Stone Master Marathoners.
Regan Walters, prosecuting, said: “Had the defendant disclosed this information, PIP would not have been awarded. There was an overpayment of £20,528.83.”
The DWP obtained photographs of the defendant and Facebook posts taken by Morris herself. She had taken part in marathons, races and orienteering.
“The first photo was taken a month after she signed her initial claim form. It can be seen that the defendant participated in a competitive race two days before making this initial claim.”
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Morris was sentenced to eight months in prison at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
“At no time did the Defendant receive any information that her condition had improved during her PIP application. The Defendant stated that she received help in almost every aspect of her life.”
In February 2023, the DWP team spotted Morris “running unassisted” in a five-mile run, Walters said, where she “showed no signs of balance problems”.
Investigators also discovered that she had participated in a staggering 73 races between May 2019 and December 2022.
Paul Cliff, defending the defendant, said Morris was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 19 years ago and the “severity of its impact fluctuated to some extent”, but he insisted she had not enjoyed a lavish lifestyle because of her fraudulent claims, adding: “She lost her home because of financial problems and was struggling to keep her head above water financially.”
Cliff continued: “The application does not give the full picture… She said running was one of the ways she managed her MS. She had a hard time accepting his dishonesty.”
Sentencing, court clerk Robert Smith said: “At assessment you said your balance difficulties were so severe that you had to hold on to someone and were walking up and down stairs on your bottom and would need five minutes rest.
“At no point did you mention that you were an avid runner and that you ran regularly. You hid that fact… In my opinion, you deliberately hid it.
“You lied about the seriousness of your condition. You attempted to defraud the taxpayer by attributing large sums to him and your lies earned you the increased rate.
“You got the rate for someone who can’t walk a single meter. It’s given to people in wheelchairs or who have no legs at all.”
A proceeds of crime hearing will take place on November 25.
