A woman in Lancashire, England, fraudulently claimed over £70,000 in benefits by falsely stating she had terminal cancer and multiple other serious illnesses. Sarah Yarwood, 39, used fabricated medical records to support her claims over a six-year period.
Fraudulent Claims
Yarwood claimed she was single and living alone while actually residing with her partner, Ian Whittaker. She received £27,998 in personal independent payments (PIP) and £42,157 in universal credit (UC) payments based on her false representations.
Bogus Medical Records
The defendant presented fake letters from hospitals, including the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, the Walton Centre in Liverpool, and The Christie hospital in Manchester, to substantiate her claims of terminal cancer and other conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, and Lewy body dementia. She falsely stated her cancer had spread to her liver and that she was unable to perform basic tasks.
Court Ruling
Preston Crown Court heard that Yarwood had repaid only £1196 of the fraudulently obtained funds. Judge Michael Maher sentenced her to three years and nine months in prison, describing her actions as “sustained” fraud and highlighting the “grotesque lies” about her terminal illness. He noted her “audacity” and “relentlessness” in perpetrating the scheme.
Mitigating Factors
The court was informed that Yarwood has complex PTSD, stemming from childhood sexual and domestic abuse. Her defense counsel, Niamh Ingham, stated Yarwood expressed remorse and attributed her actions to her health. Yarwood is currently £30,000 in debt.
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