WATCH: Benefits fraud landlady caught pulling 50 pints in an hour given suspended sentence
A former pub landlady who swindled the public out of £26,000 worth of benefits has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
Elaine Gordon was caught loading her car with stock and pouring ale from heavy cask pumps while also claiming state disability benefits, saying she couldn't wash and dress herself.
The 59-year-old fraudster was filmed by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) at Marston's pub Prince of Wales, in Tipton Road, Dudley, at the nearby Riddins Tavern and at Makro wholesalers in Halesowen.
At Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday, she was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, and given a 12-month supervision order.
She started dishonestly claiming in December 2009, when she was running The Boat Inn in Cradley Heath, and carried it on until 2014, when she was filmed pouring 50 pints in an hour during a televised World Cup match.
She claimed she suffered from Raynaud's Disease, arthritis and varicose veins, and needed care seven days a week to help with washing herself, cooking, dressing and going to the toilet.
After Gordon hobbled into the dock using a walking stick, prosecutor Richard Davenport told Wolverhampton Crown Court: "She claimed in 2001 in which she stated she was unable to work and virtually unable to walk.
"She said it took her 10 minutes to walk four yards using a stick, needed assistance dressing, cooking and washing herself and attending to her toilet needs."
Three other employees of Marstons spoke to the Department to give evidence that she was working. She was filmed on CCTV at Macro in Halesowen carrying heavy boxes and loading them into her car.
"She was also filmed working as a landlady at the pub, where she had an active role serving customers. On September 17, 2014, she was interviewed, and accepted she wasn't entitled to what she was being paid."
Gordon, of Madehurst Road, Birmingham, had previously admitted to failing to notify the authorities of a change in circumstances at Dudley Magistrates Court. Defence barrister John Evans told Judge Ciaran Rankin: "Her medication played a big part in her improvement."
Judge Rankin told Gordon yesterday: "You wanted to top up your salary with state benefits."
