A benefits cheat who pocketed more than £50,000 after claiming he could not walk or drive was caught out after he posted pictures of himself partying on a cruise. 

Nathan Wood, 58, over-exaggerated his rheumatoid arthritis over a period of nine years, Bradford Crown Court was told on Thursday. 

In 2018, the vehicle repair businessman claimed he needed a walking aid, before saying two years later he was now wheelchair bound and could not work or drive.

His co-defendant Laura Clayton posed as his carer, saying she 'saw him in pain every day'.

But Wood's web of lies was untangled after covert surveillance footage showed him working and driving colleagues about in his work van. 

He was spotted on camera in August 2023 driving the vehicle to a sports centre, walking through the car park and then entering the swimming pool.

In August this year, he also posted photographs on his Facebook page, with a caption wishing his wife a happy birthday. 

The pictures showed the pair enjoying a cruise, with Wood posing at the front of the ship in a sparkly jacket. 

In another post, he captioned an image of himself and his three children: 'Tomorrow, most people will drag themselves back to their 9-5 jobs, dreading the routine and craving more freedom. If that's you - I get it.

'But what if I told you there's a way to build a life-having business model instead of a life-draining one? 

'Something that gives you time, flexibility and purpose - not just a pay check. I've got the blueprint.'

Lauren Smith, who represented both Wood and Clayton, told the court he had received his diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis in 2014, but had 'overstated the severity of the symptoms' on his Personal Independence Payment. 

She said both of them had expressed their 'deep remorse' and made no excuses for what had happened.

Ms Smith said there was no suggestion that Clayton had received 'a cut' for her role in the offending.

She told Recorder Taryn Turner that Wood, who had been receiving benefit payments of up to £450 a month, was now paying back £65 a month under a repayment plan.

The court heard that Wood had received benefit payments totalling just over £53,800.

Recorder Turner jailed Wood for 16 months and sentenced Clayton to five months in prison suspended for 12 months. Clayton must also do 80 hours unpaid work.

She told the pair: 'These are serious offences. Benefit fraud over a prolonged period of time undermines the integrity of the social security system. 

'Throughout that period you represented your medical condition severely restricted your mobility and daily functioning...This was not an isolated act of dishonesty. 

'It was a sustained fraud maintained over many years and involving repeated false representations to preserve your entitlement to benefits.'

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: 'Benefit fraud is not a victimless crime. 

'Every pound stolen is money that should be supporting those who genuinely need help and funding our public services.

'The message is simple, if you cheat the benefits system, you will be found, you will have to pay the money back, and you could face prosecution.

'And if you know someone defrauding the system, please report it.'