A married benefits fraudster from Derby illegally pocketed over £14,000 in Personal Independence Payments (PIP) while residing in Greece, Derby Crown Court heard.
Details of the Fraud
Dawna Bird, 66, of Branksome Avenue, Alvaston, admitted fraud after evidence showed she spent more than 1,000 days overseas between 2019 and 2023 without notifying the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). PIP eligibility requires claimants to inform the DWP if they leave the country for longer than 28 days.
Prosecutor Stefan Fox told the court that Bird initially applied for PIP in February 2019, claiming help with daily living and mobility costs due to a long-term condition. Her application succeeded, but she failed to report her extended stays in Greece.
Evidence of Living Abroad
Fox revealed that investigators found Facebook posts where Bird advertised herself as a childminder in Greece and discussed plans to move abroad. She returned to the UK in August 2023 and denied living overseas during a voluntary interview, but the evidence was overwhelming.
Bird has a previous criminal record for theft and handling stolen goods dating back to the 1980s.
Sentencing and Repayment
Judge Shaun Smith KC imposed a five-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, noting that Bird is repaying the money in installments. Her barrister, Dan Scothern, stated that the claim was initially legitimate and that the funds are being deducted at source.
Bird's husband, Harry Bird, was previously sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, for fraudulently obtaining around £70,000 in benefits.
