A woman who claimed £28,000 in benefits while running pole dancing and yoga classes, which she advertised online, has been instructed to repay £13,000. Angela Clare, aged 45, from Pontypool, had been receiving personal independence payment (PIP), employment and support allowance (ESA), and housing benefit between 2016 and 2022. Clare’s claims were initially legitimate, but she failed to report a change in her health circumstances. Prosecution revealed that her social media posts showed a stark contrast to her claims, as videos depicted her pole dancing and offering yoga classes as a freelance instructor.
Screenshots were presented in court showing Clare performing advanced pole dancing moves and advertising her services for £60 per person for beginner yoga classes. Additionally, Clare did not inform authorities when she won £30,000 from the Postcode Lottery in 2021. In total, she illegally claimed £28,867. Clare pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to notify the Department of Work and Pensions and Torfaen Council of her changed circumstances. She received an 18-week suspended prison sentence and a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
During a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Cardiff Crown Court, it was revealed that Clare had benefited £27,412 but only had assets worth £13,176. The judge ordered her to repay the sum within three months. The case highlighted discrepancies between Clare’s claims of needing assistance for daily activities and her online portrayal of an active lifestyle. This incident serves as a reminder of the need for accurate reporting of circumstances when receiving government benefits to ensure fairness and integrity in the welfare system.