Woman Jailed After Faking Terminal Illnesses to Steal Over £70,000 in Benefits

A 39‑year‑old woman from Thornton‑Cleveleys has been jailed after admitting to an elaborate six‑year fraud in which she falsely claimed to suffer from a series of severe and terminal illnesses, enabling her to unlawfully obtain more than £70,000 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

A Calculated Scheme Built on Fabricated Diagnoses

The court heard that the offender, Sarah Yarwood, constructed an intricate web of deception beginning in 2017. She falsely claimed to have been diagnosed with terminal cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and Lewy body dementia, among other conditions. To support these claims, she produced forged medical letters purportedly from consultants—some of whom had died years earlier.

Her fraudulent applications enabled her to secure both Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit (UC), including fast‑tracked awards reserved for individuals with terminal prognoses. Over the course of the scheme, she received £42,157 in PIP and £27,998 in UC, totalling more than £70,000.

False Claims Extended Beyond Illness

Yarwood also misrepresented her living situation, claiming she lived alone despite residing with her partner. She further attempted to obtain additional funds through a budgeting loan, asserting she needed a fridge to store “vital medication” for her supposed cancer treatment.

Her claims were eventually scrutinised when the DWP requested details of her medical specialists—only to discover that one named consultant had died three years earlier. Subsequent investigations revealed that her genuine medical records listed only asthma and depression, with no evidence of the severe conditions she claimed.

Judge Condemns ‘Audacious’ Fraud

At Preston Crown Court, Judge Michael Maher delivered a scathing assessment of Yarwood’s actions, describing her conduct as “truly breathtaking” in its audacity. He noted that she had “kept playing that bleeding heart violin” to manipulate the system designed to support the most vulnerable.

The judge added that Yarwood’s intelligence and effort could have been directed toward legitimate employment rather than constructing an elaborate fraud.

Sentence Handed Down

Yarwood pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and making articles for use in fraud. She received a custodial sentence of three years and nine months, with both counts to run concurrently.

Broader Context: DWP Intensifies Fraud Crackdown

The case comes amid heightened scrutiny of benefit fraud across the UK. Recent prosecutions—including the largest benefit fraud case in England and Wales, involving more than £53 million in false claims—highlight the scale of the challenge facing authorities.

The DWP has reiterated its commitment to identifying and prosecuting individuals who exploit the welfare system, emphasising that fraudulent claims divert essential resources away from those genuinely in need.