Rhona Vessey, 50, claimed she 'could only walk 20 metres without getting out of breath'

A BENEFITS cheat who swindled more than 6,000 by claiming she could barely walk was caught out after appearing with a marching band.

Rhona Vessey, 50, said her physical impairments meant she could only walk 20 metres without getting out of breath and could not carry a shopping bag.

SWNS:South West News Service

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But after receiving a tip-off, investigators carried out undercover surveillance and saw Vessey marching as a drummer with the band on three separate occasions.

She had fraudulently claimed for6,251.04 in disability benefits between October 3, 2014 and October 26, 2015.

Vessey, of Little Eaton, Derbys, admitted one count of fraud and was handed a ten-week community order at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court yesterday.

District Judge Jonathan Taaffe said: This is not a victimless crime because there is no bottomless pit of money that people can fraudulently claim from.

You claimed benefits you were not entitled to and the reality is that society and the courts take a serious view on crimes like this.

You made the claim and then participated in marching activities with others.

SWNS:South West News Service

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Prosecutor Lynn Bickley said: We say this was a claim that was dishonest from the outset.

She made the claim saying she was virtually unable to walk, needed attention to her leg three times during the day and prolonged attention during the night.

In her claim she said she could only walk between 20 and 50 metres without getting out of breath.

She said often she could not go outside her front door, or go to shops and supermarkets on her own.

She said she could often not use shopping bags and felt anxious if people looked at her when she was outside.

But information was received that she was a member of a marching band and regularly took part in lengthy and complex marching routines.

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Miss Bickley said investigators for the Department for Work and Pensions went to investigate Vessey and used secret cameras to catch her playing in the Derby Midshipmen Band.

She said: The result of the surveillance was that on three occasions she was observed marching in the band with a drum strapped to her shoulder and there were no limitations on her mobility.

Judge Taaffe ordered that she pay 85 costs, an 85 victim surcharge and handed her a ten-week curfew, confining her to her address between 7pm and 7am each day.

Peter Jones, defending, said Vessey had lost her husband relatively recently and is currently jointly claiming employment support allowance with her new partner.

He said: This is a lady that feels great shame that she before the court.

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