A West Sussex mother who claimed she was too anxious to leave her home stole more than £23,000 in disability benefits to finance a lavish lifestyle, beauty treatments and dream holidays.
The fraudster’s brazen scheme was rumbled after snaps of her enjoying a zipline ride and other high-octane activities in Mexico were discovered.
Catherine Wieland, 33, from Goring-by-Sea, appeared at Hove Trial Centre, where she received a 28-week custodial sentence suspended for 18 months.
The mother had applied for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in March 2021, telling the Department for Work and Pensions that severe mental health conditions.
Wieland’s exhaustive list of apparent ailments included PTSD, depression and emotionally unstable personality disorder, which she said left her unable to function normally.
She informed officials that extreme anxiety prevented her from leaving the house, and without assistance, she would remain in her pyjamas all day.
The 33-year-old’s deception was unravelled after an anonymous tip-off prompted investigators to examine her social media accounts.
Photographs posted on Facebook revealed Wieland enjoying a three-week holiday to Cancun with her 16-year-old son, during which she went ziplining, surfing and snorkelling.
A benefits fraudster who scrounged £23,000 to fund a lavish lifestyle was exposed by ziplining pictures
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DWP
Images also showed her riding a quadbike and driving a buggy during the Mexican getaway.
Upon returning from her trip, Wieland submitted a report to the DWP that her condition had further deteriorated.
When investigators confronted her about the evidence, she responded: “I didn’t realise you’re not allowed to leave your house.”
Prosecutor Sarah Thorne told the court that the video footage directly contradicted Wieland’s assertions that she was unable to care for herself.
Catharine Wieland’s exhaustive list of apparent ailments included PTSD, depression and emotionally unstable personality disorder
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DWP
The court heard Wieland’s spending extended far beyond foreign travel, with evidence showing she frequented 60 pubs, clubs and cafes while supposedly housebound.
She made multiple visits to Thorpe Park and attended Brighton Pride, activities entirely at odds with her claims that she could not tolerate loud noise or venture out alone.
Wieland also spent her fraudulently obtained funds on beauty treatments, including acrylic nails, fake tan and appointments at a private Harley Street dentist.
Her enhanced PIP payments additionally qualified her for the Motability Scheme, through which she acquired a BMW saloon in July 2022.
The 33-year-old must now repay the £23,622.64 she obtained through the fraudulent claim, having so far returned just £120
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Prosecutor Sarah Thorne noted surveillance footage captured Wieland shopping regularly at her local centre, carrying bags and pushing a trolley, while she had told officials she was “unable to make short journeys alone” and “would have a panic attack if she went out alone”.
Judge Joshua Swirsky condemned Wieland’s actions in the strongest terms, describing her fraud as “a crime against all members of society”.
“You used these payments to live out what has been described as a lavish lifestyle. This is pure and simple fraud. This is not a victimless crime.”
The 33-year-old must now repay the £23,622.64 she obtained through the fraudulent claim, having so far returned just £120.