Catherine Wieland: Benefit cheat who claimed anxiety left her housebound caught ziplining in Mexico

A woman who claimed she was left housebound with anxiety was caught surfing and ziplining in Mexico. Catherine Wieland defrauded more than £23,000 in benefits claiming she was too ill to go outside.

The 33-year-old’s deception was uncovered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) who found evidence of her surfing in Cancun and visiting Thorpe Park three times. After her luxury trip to Mexico, she submitted a review claiming her condition had worsened.

While enjoying extreme sports and theme parks, Wieland, from Goring-by-Sea, West Sussex, was racking up tens of thousands of pounds in Personal Independence Payments (Pip) over more than two years. When investigators confronted her with bank statements she told them: “I didn’t realise you’re not allowed to leave your house”, the DWP said.

She also spent money on manicures, tanning sessions and trips to a private Harley Street dentist. While claiming her health was so poor she could not cook or wash herself, Wieland made 76 beauty appointments, visited 60 pubs, clubs and restaurants and spent money in foreign currencies.

She pleaded guilty to failing to notify a change of circumstances and must now repay the £23,662 stolen from taxpayers between 2021 and 2024. She was sentenced on Thursday to 28 weeks in custody, suspended for 18 months, the DWP said.

Andrew Western, a minister in the DWP, said: “This is an insult to every hardworking taxpayer and to people who genuinely depend on Pip. Wieland lied repeatedly, milked the system for every penny she could get and then had the nerve to claim her condition was worsening while she was ziplining and surfing in Mexico.

“We are committed to finding those who try to defraud taxpayers, and they will face the consequences.”