Benefits cheat mum exposed by facebook posts has to cough up over £20,000

SARA MORRIS FAILED TO TELL THE DWP THAT SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE STONE MASTER MARATHONERS AND REGULARLY RAN 5KM AND 10KM RACES. SHE WAS CAUGHT OUT BY HER OWN FACEBOOK POSTS OF HER RUNNING

12:58, 01 Jun 2025 A mum who swindled benefits has been told to pay back over £20,000 after her deceit was revealed by Facebook posts. Sara Morris, 50, pocketed the cash while taking part in

numerous running events. The mother-of-three was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2005. However, she overstated her condition in 2020 and claimed Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

She alleged that she couldn't stand at her cooker or get out of a bath without help. She also claimed that leaving the house caused her such anxiety that even a trip to the chemist to

pick up her medication reduced her to tears. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard she received £2,292.63 in PIP each month, according to Stoke-on-Trent Live. But she neglected to inform the

Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) that she was actually a member of the Stone Master Marathoners and regularly participated in 5km and 10km races. Her own Facebook posts of her running

exposed her. Article continues below Morris, from Walton Way, Stone, was overpaid £20,528.83 between October 20, 2020 and April 25, 2023. She admitted to dishonestly making a false

statement to obtain a benefit and was sentenced to eight months in prison last July. She has now reappeared at the same court for a Proceeds of Crime hearing. Judge Graeme Smith was informed

that Morris profited from her criminality by £22,386.02. He ordered Morris to repay £22,386.02 within 28 days or face nine months in prison as a consequence. The court was told that

surveillance on Morris from February 5 to February 20, 2023, revealed her active participation in races despite claiming disability benefits. Prosecutor Regan Walters reported: "On

February 5 she took part in a five-mile race and was seen running without assistance and showed no signs of balance problems. "On February 11 she was seen running with the Stone Master

Marathoners and showed no signs of discomfort." Investigators found that Morris had taken part in 73 races between May 2019 and December 2022. During an interview on May 11, 2023,

Morris admitted her MS symptoms had worsened, including increased fatigue. However, she acknowledged her previous membership with the Stone Master Marathoners running club before filing her

claim and mentioned she completed her PIP form on a particularly bad day. Defence lawyer Paul Cliff explained that Morris has been living with MS for 19 years and its severity varies. Mr

Cliff stated: "But it is accepted by her that the application did not give the full picture. It crossed over into the realms of dishonesty." Cliff also detailed the breakdown of

Morris's marriage in spring 2020 and her lack of financial gain from the fraudulent claim, noting: "She lost her home because of financial problems and was struggling to keep her

head above water financially. "The application did not give the full picture. She did say running was one of the ways she tried to manage her MS. She has found it difficult to come to

terms with her dishonesty." Morris is also required to pay a surcharge of £187. Article continues below _FOR THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND STORIES FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE FROM THE DAILY

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