Benefits cheat who said she 'could not walk more than a metre' scuppered after picture emerges

Because of her apparent condition which "severely limited" her ability to perform basic tasks, she had been handed Pip at an enhanced rate - usually reserved for people who are "wheelchair-bound or have no legs at all".

But a string of images which disprove her claims - namely, of her running several marathons, races and going orienteering - have landed her an eight-month prison sentence.

Morris, a mother-of-three, had been legitimately diagnosed with the condition in 2005 - but had exaggerated the extent of her multiple sclerosis in 2020 - and claimed £2,292.63 in Pip payments per month, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard.

Then, over a span of just three years, the avid runner had been overpaid £20,528.83 between October 2020, and April 2023.

Though Morris was told to declare any changes in her status - and was given opportunities to do so including a face-to-face consultation in 2021 - she continued to receive the payments.

Investigators from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) then discovered Morris was competing in organised running events, and was actively a member of a running club, the Stone Master Marathoners

Prosecuting, Regan Walters said: "If the defendant had disclosed the information the PIP would not have been awarded. There was an overpayment of £20,528.83."

The DWP obtained photographs of the defendant and some Facebook posts taken by Morris herself. She had been taking part in marathons, races and orienteering.

"The first photo was taken a month after she signed her initial claim form. The defendant can be seen to have been taking part in a competitive run two days prior to making that initial claim."

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"At no point was information received from the defendant reporting any improvement in her condition during her claim for PIP. The defendant reported receiving assistance in almost every aspect of her life."

In February 2023, the DWP team spotted Morris "running without assistance" in a five-mile race, Walters said, where she "showed no signs of balance problems".

The investigators also discovered she had ran a staggering 73 races between May 2019 and December 2022.

Paul Cliff, defending, said Morris had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 19 years ago, and said the "severity of its impact ebbs and flows to a degree", but insisted that she had not enjoyed a lavish lifestyle thanks to 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 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."

Sentencing, Recorder Robert Smith said: "During the assessment, you said the difficulties with your balance were so bad you had to hold on to someone and you went up and down stairs on your bottom and would require five minutes' rest.

"At no point did you mention you were a keen runner and ran regularly. You hid that fact... In my judgement, you deliberately hid it.

"You told lies about the severity of your condition. You set out to defraud the taxpayer of significant sums of money and your lies meant you were awarded the enhanced rate.

"You were awarded the rate for somebody who cannot walk for one single metre. It is awarded to people who are wheelchair-bound or have no legs at all."

A proceeds of crime hearing will be held on November 25.