A woman, Dawna Bird, aged 66, avoided jail time after confessing to fraudulently obtaining over £14,000 in Personal Independence Payment (PIP) while residing overseas. The court was informed that Bird failed to notify the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about her prolonged stay in Greece, a violation that impacted her PIP entitlement. During her time in Greece, Bird even promoted her childminding services on Facebook.
Bird’s spouse, Harry Bird, had already been convicted for claiming approximately £70,000 in additional benefits and was given a suspended nine-month prison term. Dawna Bird, residing in Alvaston, Derby, was also spared jail, with her five-month sentence suspended for a year. Judge Shaun Smith KC, presiding at Derby Crown Court, acknowledged the overwhelming evidence against Bird and praised her for beginning the repayment process in installments.
Prosecutor Stefan Fox revealed that Bird initially applied for PIP in February 2019 and was granted the benefit. Despite being instructed to inform the DWP of any extended trips outside the UK, Bird neglected to do so while spending an extended period in Greece. Investigations uncovered evidence of her extended stays in Greece and her online activities promoting her childminding services.
During a voluntary interview upon her return to the UK in August 2023, Bird denied living abroad. Her defense attorney, Dan Scothern, mentioned that the initial benefit claim was genuine, and Bird is now repaying the owed amount through deductions.
