A 33-year-old woman has avoided imprisonment after unlawfully obtaining £23,000 from public funds while maintaining an extravagant way of living.
Catherine Wieland, from Bluebell Way in Goring, submitted a claim for Personal Independence Payments in March 2021. These payments provide support for individuals with enduring physical and mental health conditions or disabilities.
At Hove Trial Centre on March 26, the court heard that Wieland filed the claim citing mental health difficulties, including post-traumatic stress disorder, emotionally unstable personality disorder and depression.
She informed the Department for Work and Pensions that she could no longer venture outside due to severe anxiety, and without support, she would remain indoors in nightclothes throughout the day.
Wieland was also granted enhanced payments alongside access to the Motability Scheme, through which she obtained a BMW saloon vehicle in July 2022.
Crown Prosecution Service lawyer Sarah Thorne stated that Wieland had claimed she could not undertake brief journeys independently, would experience panic attacks if she went out alone, and disliked loud sounds.
Nevertheless, the court was told that during the period she was receiving these payments, Wieland was enjoying an extravagant lifestyle. This included taking her teenage son, aged 16, on a three-week vacation to Mexico, where she participated in ziplining and drove an off-road vehicle.
She additionally frequented 60 drinking establishments, nightspots and coffee shops, as well as amusement parks and the Brighton Pride event, according to Ms Thorne.
An investigation commenced after an anonymous report was received, with evidence gathered from photographs and recordings posted on social media platforms.
Ms Thorne explained that Wieland had stated she was capable of shopping every single day. She was recorded stating she would continue pursuing her claim until she secured a vehicle.
Video documentation contradicted assertions of poor self-care, as Wieland was observed sporting artificial nails, artificial tan and false eyelashes, Ms Thorne added.
During questioning in November 2023, Wieland claimed she experienced both favourable and unfavourable days, though unfavourable days predominated.
She further stated that anxiety and public transport continued to present difficulties, and that during their Mexican vacation she had taken substantial medication and limited her activities.
Ms Thorne noted that the Crown acknowledged that genuine mental health difficulties existed in Wieland’s case, encompassing childhood trauma and involvement in abusive relationships.
The prosecution stated that while the claim may have been legitimate initially, it transformed into deception during its duration.
The court heard that Wieland has repaid £120 of the total £23,622.64 owed to the Department for Work and Pensions. She is settling this amount through deductions from her benefits.
Representing Wieland, Daniel Frier submitted that the claim was not dishonest from the beginning.
He stated that the claim was founded on mental health difficulties. She has struggled with significant mental health problems, he explained.
He noted that she had received diagnoses of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, personality disorder and anxiety, and takes several different medications.
She fully acknowledges her culpability for this behaviour, Mr Frier stated. She openly admitted she did not wish the payments to cease. She regrets her actions, he added.
Wieland entered a guilty plea to the fraud offence on January 16.
Judge Joshua Swirsky described Wieland’s conduct as an offence against all members of the public.
He stated that she had claimed she could not function normally and required help with everyday tasks. She had claimed she did not go outside. Without assistance, she would sit all day in nightclothes without occupation. She utilised these payments to fund what has been characterised as an extravagant lifestyle. This constitutes straightforward deception. This is not a crime without victims. It is an offence against all members of the public. The resources available to the Department for Work and Pensions are restricted. She diminished the funds that might be accessible in future years. The offence is worsened by the fact that the money was spent on luxury goods, he stated.
Judge Swirsky indicated that he acknowledged her mental health difficulties and had factored this into account.
She received a sentence of 28 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. She was also required to complete 12 rehabilitation activity requirement sessions.