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A UK woman who claimed more than $30,000 in government benefits while claiming her anxiety was so crippling she couldn’t even leave the house was caught surfing and ziplining on vacation in Mexico.
Catherine Wieland, 33, from Goring-by-Sea in England, admitted to bilking benefits for more than two years while als claiming her condition was so severe she couldn’t even cook or wash herself, according to the Independent.
But she was easily caught out in the lie when she was found to have gone ziplining and surfing more than 5,000 miles from home in Mexico.
The scammer also went to UK amusement park Thorpe Park at least three times — and made 76 beauty appointments while also visiting at least 60 pubs, clubs and restaurants.
Even after her luxury trip to Mexico, Wieland filed a review with the department — claiming her anxiety had worsened.
“I didn’t realize you’re not allowed to leave your house,” Wieland told investigators when confronted with her bank statements.
She pleaded guilty to failing to notify a change of circumstances and was ordered to repay the roughly $31,500 she stole in taxpayer money between 2021 and 2024, according to the DWP.
She was sentenced on Thursday to 28 weeks in jail, which was suspended for 18 months, the UK version of probation.
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