A woman convicted of fraudulent activities for unlawfully obtaining over £14,000 in Personal Independence Payment (PIP) while residing outside the country has been given a suspended sentence instead of imprisonment.

Dawna Bird, aged 66, confessed to the charge of fraudulently withholding pertinent information on the initial day of her trial. The court was informed that Bird was obliged to inform the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if she stayed abroad for more than 28 days, as it affected her eligibility for PIP.

Rather than complying with the requirement, Bird spent nearly three years in Greece while continuing to receive PIP payments. During her stay in Greece, she even promoted her childminding services on Facebook.

Her spouse, Harry Bird, had previously been convicted for a similar offense. He unlawfully obtained around £70,000 in extra benefits and received a suspended nine-month prison term.

Despite the overwhelming evidence against her, Dawna Bird, who resides in Alvaston, Derby, managed to avoid incarceration. Her five-month sentence was suspended for a year by Judge Shaun Smith KC at Derby Crown Court, who acknowledged her repayment efforts.

Prosecutor Stefan Fox revealed that Bird applied for PIP in February 2019, and although warned about the reporting requirements for leaving the UK, she failed to notify the DWP about her extended stays in Greece.

Fox added, “Evidence emerged indicating her prolonged absence from the UK, prompting an inquiry. She spent more than 1,000 days outside the UK without informing the DWP, as evidenced by Facebook posts where she discussed her plans to relocate and her childminding activities in Greece.”

Upon returning to the UK in August 2023, Bird denied living abroad during a voluntary interview. Her defense attorney, Dan Scothern, stated that her initial claim was legitimate, and she is now repaying the funds through deductions directly from her income.