Man claimed to be 'too weak' to lift phone before being seen running 10K and climbing scaffolding

Man claimed to be 'too weak' to lift phone before being seen running 10K and climbing scaffolding Ryan Scott, 39, said he could not walk more than 20 metres and claimed £7,600 in disability benefits after telling authorities a workplace accident had left him immobile A man claimed to be "too weak" to lift a phone was caught running a 10K and climbing scaffolding. Ryan Scott, 39, had been claiming disability benefits after telling authorities a workplace accident left him so immobile he could not carry out basic tasks like lifting a pan or walk more than 20 metres. But an anonymous tip-off led Department for Work and Pensions investigators to uncover photos of him completing a 10K race and bank records showed he'd returned to paid plastering work. Surveillance officers then filmed Scott climbing ladders, carrying heavy equipment and plastering walls with apparent ease. Magistrates heard he claimed more than £7,600 Personal Independence Payment (PIP) he was not entitled to and was sentenced on Thursday to a community order and fine. He was charged after he failed to tell the Department for Work and Pensions his condition had improve to such an extent he was able to complete an endurance running race. After the event, authorities carried out the surveillance operation over several days and filmed Scott, a plasterer, working on a building site. Exeter Magistrates Court heard he had initially been claiming legitimate benefits but his health and mobility had improved around May 2023 and then on 22 June 2023 he paid an entry fee to enter a 10k race - that he completed a month later. Surveillance was carried out between over several days in March 2024 and he was recorded carrying out activities that "contradicted his claim," magistrates heard. The defendant from Torquay, Devon, failed to notify of the change in circumstances and continued to be paid his benefits as an automatic transfer to his Monza account, the court heard. After investigation his claim was re-calculated and it was deemed he was not entitled to the benefit from 31 May 2023 until 7 April 2024 - generating an overpayment of £7,625.68. Fraud investigators said Scott told them he had felt well enough to consider a 10k over improving in the gym but said it had "not been done with ease." He told them: "It took a long time for me to do and I was in bed for two weeks afterwards." He was approved for his initial claim after reporting difficulty preparing food, lifting pans from the oven, opening twist top lids and said it was painful to sit upright. He said he was "too weak" to lift a phone and had difficulty being outside for more than a few minutes. He also claimed he was unable to plan journey or walk more than 20m without an aid. Addressing the court, Scott told magistrates: "I would like to apologise for any trouble I have caused to anyone. At the time I was taking a lot of medication. I slipped into deep depression. "I was going back to work but was not completely able to do it. I was getting picked up by a friend and taken in. It was more to try and pull me out of a deep hole." I did not think at the time what I was doing. I was not in a good place. It was unintentional and I would like to apologise for that." Magistrates said there was "no reason" to believe his claim was false from the outset and said he had no relevant previous convictions. He was sentenced to a 15 day community order and must pay a fine, costs and victim surcharge totalling £360. The court heard he had already started repaying the money to the DWP. After sentencing, a DWP spokesperson said: "Benefit fraud is not a victimless crime – it steals money from the people who need it most. “Whatever your reasons for cheating the system, know that our investigators are wise to every trick in the book and we will find you. So, if you know someone is playing the system, turn them in.”