A benefits cheat who was secretly filmed completing five kilometre runs when she claimed she could barely walk has been jailed for two years. Annette Bond has also been ordered to pay back nearly £70,000 she conned from taxpayers under proceeds of crime legislation.
"But by far the most graphic evidence in the trial that your condition had improved was the surveillance footage obtained by DWP investigators from 2017, recording your ability to run five km, over mixed terrain, more than once a week. "You have defrauded the state of a large sum of money over a protracted period. I am satisfied only a custodial sentence is appropriate."
However, they found her guilty after being shown video footage of Bond leaving her home in high visibility running gear to carry out sub-30 minute 5k runs around her neighbourhood. "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.
"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." 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."