<p><br /> A former golf club captain who swindled thousands of pounds in benefits has avoided prison after being given a suspended jail sentence.<br /> </p><p><br /> Valerie Lewis, 55, from Runcorn, Cheshire, claimed she suffered back pain which made it "virtually impossible" for her to walk unaided outdoors.<br /> </p><p><br /> But surveillance footage taken by fraud investigators captured Lewis at her golf club - teeing off, playing the fairways and pulling her golf bag without any apparent difficulty.<br /> </p><p><br /> She was sentenced to 24 weeks in jail, suspended for two years, at Warrington Crown Court after pleading guilty to dishonestly claiming benefit totalling £40,842.<br /> </p><p><br /> Charlotte Atherton, for the prosecution, said Lewis made her initial claim for Disability Living Allowance in March 2001.<br /> </p><p><br /> On the application form, the defendant said back pain made it difficult for her to walk, dress and wash herself or prepare food without "severe discomfort".<br /> </p><p><br /> Lewis also claimed she needed help getting into and out of bed, the barrister said.<br /> </p><p><br /> The mother-of-two then saw a doctor for assessment and claimed she was unable to walk more than 140 yards without having to go to bed for the rest of the day.<br /> </p><p><br /> Golf club records and Lewis's own diaries, which were seized by benefit fraud investigators, showed she even played a round of golf the day after her doctor's assessment, Miss Atherton said.<br /> </p>
