A benefits swindler who claimed £23,000 saying her crippling anxiety kept her housebound at home was pictured clubbing, surfing and ziplining in Mexico.
Mother-of-one Catherine Wieland, 33, was given a 28-week suspended sentence at Hove Crown Court in East Sussex after racking up £23,662 in Personal Independence Payments over more than two years.
Evidence presented to the court showed her ziplining and surfing in Cancun and visiting Thorpe Park three times all while telling the DWP that her debilitating mental health prevented her from going out.
Wieland’s lavish spending also included other luxuries like acrylic nails, tanning sessions and trips to a private Harley Street dentist.
Overall, she treated herself to 76 beauty appointments, 60 visits to pubs, clubs and restaurants and several foreign currency transactions, despite claiming she couldn’t cook or wash herself without prompting and couldn’t travel alone.
When the mother returned from her lavish holiday she submitted a review claiming her condition had worsened, saying she couldn’t stand for long and the use of her hands was limited.
But subsequent surveillance showed Wieland at her local shopping centre lifting bags and pushing a trolley.
When investigators finally confronted her with her bank statements she told them: ‘I didn’t realise you’re not allowed to leave your house.’
Catherine Wieland, 33, claimed £23,000 saying anxiety kept her housebound. She was later pictured clubbing, surfing and ziplining in Mexico
Wieland is seen outside court today. The mother of one claimed she suffered crippling anxiety that left her housebound
Judge Joshua Swirsky said: ‘This is pure and simple fraud. It’s not a victimless crime. It’s a crime against other members of society.
‘There is only a limited amount of money awarded to the DWP, for people in need.
‘Your offences are aggravated by what you spent the money on – pubbing and clubbing, shopping for clothes, taking your son on a holiday to Cancun.’
Prosecutor Sarah Thorne told how the defendant claimed benefits including a BMW saloon via the Motability scheme.
Defence lawyer Daniel Frier told the court she had suffered childhood trauma and domestic violence.
Wieland stayed silent and walked by when asked for comment on leaving the dock.
She previously denied the offences before changing her plea to guilty in January this year.
Her claims for Personal Independence Payments, or PIPs, began in 2021.
She told officials of suffering from PTSD and dyslexia, Hove Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor Sarah Thorne told the court how Wieland spoke of how she ‘needed support to cope with daily life’.
It was an anonymous tip-off to the Department of Work and Pensions that prompted a probe into her claims.
Pictures and videos shared online coincided with times she was applying for PIP payments.
Ms Thorne said: ‘Evidence was found that she was dishonest about the claims.’
Pictures of Wieland on holiday – which coincided with times she was applying for PIP payments – showed her riding a quad bike and doing various other outdoor activities
The mother of one is seen exploring an underground cave while on holiday. She told officials of suffering from PTSD and dyslexia which left her housebound
Wieland poses in front of a BMW saloon car she obtained under the Motability programme before attending a festival
Trips made by Wieland included outings at Chessington and Thorpe Park theme parks as well as a holiday in Mexico and attending a Brighton Pride event.
She also obtained, in July 2022, a BMW saloon car under the Motability programme.
Ms Thorne asked for costs of £1,650 though acknowledged Wieland’s likely weekly payments would be ‘a drop in the ocean’.
Wieland, who had no previous convictions, was described by her lawyer Daniel Frier as someone who started claiming benefits then ‘didn’t want the money to stop’.
He told the court she was the sole carer of her 16-year-old son and the Motability-provided BMW had gone back.
Mr Frier added: ‘She’s sorry for what she’s done.’
Following her sentencing, Minister for Transformation Andrew Western said: ‘This is an insult to every hardworking taxpayer and to people who genuinely depend on PIP.
‘Wieland lied repeatedly, milked the system for every penny she could get and then had the nerve to claim her condition was worsening while she was ziplining and surfing in Mexico.
‘We are committed to finding those who try to defraud taxpayers, and they will face the consequences.’
