'Disabled' claimant was in race.

Byline: RHIANNON BEACHAM

In February 2006, she also began claiming disability living allowance stating that she was asthmatic, suffered joint pain and bladder problems to the point of incontinence and said she was so troubled by dizziness she could not queue in a shop.

The benefit was granted, Mr Crowther said.

He said information was then received by the DWP and their investigators began following Hutchinson in March this year.

"They watched her leave the house before 7 every morning to go to a gym in Barry," he said.

Mr Crowther said her routine then involved leisurely shopping at her local supermarket. Hutchinson was also filmed taking part in the Race For Life at Cardiff's Bute Park.

Susan Ferrier, defending, said Hutchinson married at 19 and had three children with her husband who left her in 2003 with significant debts.

A WOMAN who claimed disability benefit reserved for those who can barely walk was yesterday given a suspended jail sentence after she was filmed attending a gym and taking part in a charity race.

Susan Hutchinson, 56, of Trinity Street, Barry, South Wales, said her disability was such that it would take her 30 minutes to walk 100 yards.

But Cardiff Crown Court heard that earlier this year she completed the 5km Race For Life in an hour and a half.

Hutchinson pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to six counts of false representation. The court heard she had falsely claimed pounds 23,238 since 2003 in disability living allowance, income support, council tax benefit and housing benefit. Tom Crowther, prosecuting, said Hutchinson had lived a separate existence under the surname Johnson.

He said: "By the name Johnson she was known as active, healthy and industrious.

"As Hutchinson she was a woman known to the Department for Work and Pensions and local council as someone crippled by disability, unable to live any regular life."

The recorder, Peter Rouch QC, sentenced Hutchinson to eight weeks imprisonment suspended for 15 months so that she could return home to look after her disabled 36-year-old son.

Mr Crowther told the court that Hutchinson began claiming income support, housing and council tax benefit in August 2003 despite being employed at a care home.

CAPTION(S):

Benefit fraudster Susan Hutchinson leaves court yesterday