Snorkelling benefits cheat guilty of £81,000 fraud

Department of Work and Pensions investigators launched a probe after a tip off and discovered photographs showing Linda Hoey snorkelling, on her knees altering her daughter's wedding dress and bent over a snooker table with a cue in her hands.

Hoey illegally pocketed £65,244 of Disability Living Allowances by deliberately exaggerating the effects of arthritis and other complaints it is accepted she suffers from.

This allowed her to receive an exemption pass under false pretences and rack up a further £15,690 worth of free travel on the M6 Toll Road. She is believed to be the first person in the country to be convicted of such an offence.

Hoey was unanimously convicted of both offences yesterday following a trial at Stafford Crown Court and was warned by Recorder Michael Elsom to expect to be jailed. Sentence was adjourned for reports to a date to be fixed and she was given bail until then.

The 58-year-old, twice-married mother of four claimed that severe arthritis and back problems meant it took her four minutes to walk as many metres.

She also maintained she could not perform simple household chores or even get dressed without assistance as well as needing a walking stick at all times and help to climb stairs.

In fact she had worked full time at PartsWorld in Orbital Way, Cannock for 17 years and regularly drove alone to the office along the M6 Toll Road for free.

Department of Work and Pensions investigators launched a probe after a tip off and discovered photographs showing Hoey snorkelling, on her knees altering her daughter's wedding dress and bent over a snooker table with a cue in her hands.

Mr Anthony Cartin, prosecuting, told the Stafford Crown Court jury: "She had been working full time from 1997 in a desk job doing the exact thing - sitting for a long time in the same position - she said she could not do without pain. She has lied and exaggerated, cheating you, me and the public out of money from the public purse."

Stewart Halstead, her former boss at PartsWorld - which she left in 2014 - said in evidence he did not know Hoey had long-term health problems and had never seen her use a stick. He also revealed she regularly walked up the office's spiral staircase carrying a tray of hot drinks.

Mr Cartin told the defendant: "You have some health issues but you exaggerated the impact on your daily life because you know what you have to say to get disability living allowance."

She retorted: "I have not been dishonest. My mobility has got worse. I cannot walk without severe discomfort but perhaps I could have explained things a lot better on the forms I filled in."

Hoey from Talland Avenue, Armington, Tamworth, was found guilty of fraudulently misrepresenting her benefit claim between 2001 and 2015 and misusing an exemption pass for the M6 Toll Road between 2004 and 2015.

A restraining order has been put on her property - including a narrow boat - pending a future Proceeds of Crime hearing.