Creswell woman on benefits charges

Janet Sutton, 49, of Linden Road, appeared at Worksop Magistrates’ Court on Thursday charged with two offences of understating the extent of her mobility and overstating her care needs on a form to claim disability living allowance.

The court heard she had been over paid by more than £16,500 between 2006 and 2012.

Prosecutor Ruth Snowdin said several allegations had been made putting her disability into doubt because she was working as a cleaner in Creswell and walked to work.

Defence solicitor Ian Pridham said Sutton suffers from long standing health problems, including a type of arthritis which she takes five kinds of medication for.

He said her father suffers from a similar condition and suggested she might be able to claim benefits.

Mr Pridham said Sutton went through the form with a volunteer at the benefits office and told them how bad her condition can be.

He said her mobility varies and on some days she is unable to get out of bed and needs help. However, there was no question on the form about employment.

“What she should have detailed is that she does this daily work and she hasn’t done that and I suspect that because of that she has been awarded more (money) than she should have.”

Magistrates deferred sentence to 23rd May for the preparation of a report from the probation service.