A benefits cheat who claimed almost £100,000 by saying she was housebound was living it up at rock concerts and spending the cash on clothes.
Joy Taylor, 32, of Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was assessed as being severely disabled after having suffered a serious leg injury in an accident in 2007.
But the mother-of-one continued to make claims after she recovered from the injury two years later, enjoying an active social life, attending concerts and camping at music festivals.
Joy Taylor, 32, (pictured on a night out) assessed as being severely disabled after having suffered a serious leg injury in an accident several years ago
She was found out by investigators after posting pictures of herself at the events, including Leeds Festival, Creamfields, Westfest and a Kings of Leon concert, on her own Facebook page.
Her 64-year-old mother Linda also continued to claim money as her nominated carer. When Taylor was confronted she blamed the scam on her mother, whom she has since fallen out with.
Durham Crown Court heard that mother and daughter received up to a £95,000 over-payment and even according to defence admissions, it was over £70,000.
A jury was told that her initial claim after her car came off the road while travelling to work in September 2007 was legitimate but she should have informed the Department for Work and Pensions of her change in circumstances in 2009.
Mark Styles, prosecuting, said the claims were made on the basis that her mother was providing an average 135-hours of assistance a month to help her with day-to-day living, receiving an average payment of about £1,500 a month.
The court heard Joy Taylor, who has a six-year-old son, was regularly transferring sums from the account, which should have been used solely for care purposes, but which went into her current account.
When questioned in September 2014, she claimed her mother set everything up and she did not know why all the money was given to her, so she decided to spend it on clothes and other personal expenditure, having only recently begun to recover.
Taylor (pictured left at a festival and right posing beside a tree) continued to make claims even after her recovery
When shown photographic evidence, she tried to blame her mother, but accepted her dishonesty and said she should have stopped the payments from 2009.
Linda Taylor initially made denials, telling investigators she was 'run ragged' looking after her daughter, but later conceded the claims were bogus, but she regarded the payments as 'a bonus'.
Taylor, pictured with a friend at another festival, was sentenced at Durham Crown Court yesterday
Joy and Linda Taylor, both of Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, admitted false representation to make gain at an earlier hearing.
Liam O'Brien, representing Joy Taylor, said the claim began legitimately, but she was 'ham-fisted' maintaining it, displaying a degree of 'naivety' with her social media postings.
But he added that his client is of otherwise good character.
Andrew Petterson, for Linda Taylor, said although it was not a fraudulent claim from the outset, it was aggravated by the time it went on.
Mr Petterson said Taylor has an 'excellent work record' and hopes to make recompense from proceeds of a house sale.
Judge Simon Hickey described it was 'deliberate defrauding' of the public purse over a period of time.
He said it carried on due to the defendants' 'pure greed', and while both deserved custody, he could suspend sentence, purely because Joy Taylor's son would suffer.
She was given a 14-month sentence, suspended for a year, during which she must undergo probation supervision, plus an eight-week, 8pm - 7am, home curfew.
Linda Taylor was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for a year.
Paul Bradley, corporate fraud manager, Durham County Council, said: 'Fraud against the social care system directly affects some of the most vulnerable members of our community.
'We are pleased with the outcome of this case as we continue to fight against fraud, which takes money from the public purse.
Taylor, pictured second from left, with friends at another festival. The court heard she attended weekends at Leeds Festival, Creamfields, Westfest and a Kings of Leon concert while claiming to be disabled
Taylor, pictured in a nightclub on a night out, was handed a 14-month sentence suspended for 12 months yesterday
'Monies were paid to Miss Taylor in good faith, to care for, who we thought was, a vulnerable resident.
'Our success in bringing this to court demonstrates our commitment to take all necessary action where it is appropriate.'
Speaking to the Northern Echo today, Joy Taylor apologised for her actions, claiming she is not a bad person but found the 'temptation too much'.
'I lost two years of my life because of the car crash when I injured my leg and I think I was just trying to compensate for the time I lost,' she said.
'The benefits were building up in a bank account and when I realised I could transfer them I did it.
'I definitely had a good time, I loved going out and dancing, seeing bands, enjoying myself, but that's all over now.'
She added that she wants to settle down and get a job now to support her six-year-old son.
The mother-of-one, pictured in a neon green top, suffered a leg injury in a car crash in 2007 but was still claiming benefits years later
She was found out by Government investigators after posting pictures of herself at the events around the country on her own Facebook page
0 comments:
Post a Comment