Murder actress cheated benefits

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An actress on disability benefits said she was agoraphobic with a paralysed leg while performing in her own murder mystery plays, a court has been told.

Edwina Stocker, 57, from Blackpool in Lancashire, admitted falsely claiming more than £10,000 of disability living allowance, Preston Crown Court heard.

She had failed to tell the authorities when she recovered from ill health.

Judge Anthony Russell QC sentenced Stocker to an 18-week prison term, suspended for 12 months.

Stocker ran the In The Dark Murder Company as Miss Rosemary Devine.

The court heard Stocker told benefits officials in 2001 that she suffered from vertigo, panic attacks, agoraphobia, disorientation, a chronic paralysed right leg and arthritis.

It is very sad to see a lady of your age in this court and somebody of positive good character having overcome terrible difficulties in your life Judge Anthony Russell

Her poor health eased in 2005 but she failed to notify the authorities and duped the benefits system out of £10,666 over two years.

Judge Russell said Stocker, of Hawthorn Road, had been "foolish" to continue claiming the full amount.

He said: "It is a fraud upon the public. Public resources are limited so it is a serious matter when they are misapplied."

Undercover investigators from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) filmed Stocker as she performed, the court heard.

Sophie Cartwright, defending, said Stocker's was "not a dishonest claim from the outset".

She said her client had had a "hard life", still has health problems and was "apologetic and remorseful".

Judge Russell told Stocker: "It is very sad to see a lady of your age in this court and somebody of positive good character having overcome terrible difficulties in your life."

Stocker was also ordered to comply with a 12-month supervision order.