Dawn Gregory was given a suspended sentence this week after claiming disability benefit before jogging around the parade ring at Crufts with her dog

A benefits cheat who claimed she couldn't walk was caught out after she was spotted jogging around the parade ring as she showed off her dogs at Crufts.

Dawn Gregory, of Kettlethorpe, Lincolnshire, wrongly pocketed more than £16,000 in taxpayer-funding disability benefits after telling authorities she had suffered a brain hernia.

But she was prosecuted after she was seen, in a judges' words 'walking briskly and unaided at Crufts... going for considerable distances, even jogging' at the famous dog show.

Gregory, 56, was handed a suspended sentence this week after she admitted dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances affecting her benefit.

Joey Kwong, prosecuting, told the court that footage from Crufts showed Gregory trotting briskly with her dog around the show ring and showing no signs of being unable to walk as she had claimed.

Gregory breeds keeshonds and Lowchen Littler Lion Dog and also judges at dog shows. She is pictured at a show in 2010

Mr Kwong said 'She was in receipt of PIP which was granted in relation to a medical condition. She had suffered a brain hernia. That caused here to suffer headaches, neck and shoulder pain, weakness to her left side and mini-strokes.

'She said she was unable to stretch or bend down or walk more than 20 yards without assistance. She said she was unable to go up and down stairs and avoided public places.

'She said she constantly needed urgent access to the bathroom and she was unable to dress and wash herself properly because every time she bends it causes her pain which causes here to have to sit down to recover.

'She was initially given a standard rate of support. She appealed. Ultimately she was granted benefit at an enhanced rate.

'An investigation showed that during the period she was using a car and she was regularly attending show dog events. There is footage that shows her showing off her dog. She can walk and trot briskly.

'She was walking around unaided. She was able to bend down and she was able to walk distances.'

Gregory was this week given an eight week jail sentence suspended for 12 months. She is pictured at another dogs show in 2010

Mr Kwong said the DWP did not dispute that Gregory suffers from a medical condition which initially entitled her to the benefits she was receiving but when the condition improved she did not inform the authorities.

In total she received £16,719 she was not entitled to.

Gregory, 56, of Kettlethorpe, Lincs, admitted a charge of dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances affecting her benefit.

She was given an eight week jail sentence suspended for 12 months with a three month electronically monitored night time curfew.

Recorder William Harbage QC ordered the confiscation of £16,719 of her assets which will be paid to the DWP as compensation.

The Recorder told Gregory 'This was sponging off the state. On the forms you write that you were in fear of being noticed and you didn't go out. You said you couldn't walk without help and could not walk more than 20 metres. You said you fall all the time and you can't get up and down stairs.

'When the DWP investigated they were able to see footage of you walking briskly and unaided at Crufts in 2016 and 2018 going for considerable distances , even jogging or running around the parade ring, bending and sitting and stretching without help.

'It should have been obvious to you that you should have been in touch with the DWP to tell them your condition had improved.'

Gregory was at Crufts in 2016 and 2018. A judge said it should have been obvious to her that she should tell authorities her condition had improved

Mark Watson, in mitigation, said that Gregory continues to suffer from various illnesses and is not clear of the symptoms of her conditions.

He told the court that Gregory plans to borrow money from her sister to recompense the DWP and will repay her sister from the proceeds of selling her house.

'The money will be paid back,' he said.

A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions said: 'Benefit fraud is a crime that diverts money from those who really need it. In addition to any sentence imposed by the court, people must pay back all the money they falsely obtained.

'We have zero tolerance of anyone fraudulently claiming benefits and will take swift action to investigate, supporting our partners and prosecutors to bring them to justice.'