A man claiming disability benefits in the United Kingdom was found to be working as a plasterer and completing a 10-kilometer running race, authorities said. Ryan Scott, 39, had been receiving over £7,600 in Personal Independence Payments (PIP) after stating he was too immobile to perform basic tasks and could not walk more than 20 meters.
An anonymous tip led investigators from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to uncover photographic evidence of Scott completing a 10k race and bank records indicating he had returned to plastering work. Surveillance officers documented Scott climbing ladders, carrying heavy equipment, and plastering walls.
Exeter Magistrates Court heard that Scott's condition and mobility had improved around May 2023. He entered a 10k race on June 22, 2023, and completed it one month later. Surveillance conducted over several days in March 2024 showed Scott performing manual labor that contradicted his claims.
The court was informed that Scott, from Torquay, Devon, failed to notify authorities of his improved circumstances. His claim was recalculated, determining he was not entitled to benefits from May 31, 2023, to April 7, 2024, resulting in an overpayment of £7,625.68.
Scott told investigators he felt well enough to consider a 10k but stated it was not completed with ease and required two weeks of recovery. His initial claim was approved based on reports of difficulty preparing food, lifting pans, opening lids, and pain when sitting upright. He also reported being too weak to lift a phone and experiencing difficulty being outside for more than a few minutes.
Scott addressed the court, apologizing for any trouble caused and attributing his actions to a period of depression and medication use. He stated he was not in a good place at the time and that returning to work, with assistance from a friend, was an attempt to overcome a difficult period.
Magistrates noted that there was no initial reason to believe his claim was false and that he had no relevant prior convictions. He was sentenced to a 15-day community order and ordered to pay a total of £360 in fines, costs, and victim surcharges. The court was informed that Scott had already begun repaying the DWP.
A DWP spokesperson stated that benefit fraud is not a victimless crime and urged the public to report suspected fraud. The DWP is also implementing new measures to combat benefit fraud, including enhanced data analytics and investigative capabilities, and has announced plans to recover billions in lost funds by 2031. Recent cases mentioned include individuals convicted of substantial PIP fraud.