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| Surf's Up: Hamlyn-Wright in Newquay |
A globe-trotting musician and competitive surfer was paid over £27,000 in disability benefits after lying she was so disabled she couldn’t dress or wash herself, a court heard today.
Glastonbury performer October Hamlyn-Wright, 36, toured Australia and Scandinavia and made a music video featuring her surfing skills, which was played to the jury.
The self-styled ‘Rockchick’ and ’Surfgirl’, of Lewarne Road, Porth, Newquay, Cornwall has pleaded not guilty to the charges at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.
She is accused of twice making dishonest false representations about her mobility and care needs to the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) in claims for Disability Living Allowance on October 26, 2013 and October 3, 2015.
Prosecutor Mr. Andrew Price told the court Hamlyn-Wright, who performs simply as ‘October’ had posted pictures and videos of herself on Facebook, YouTube and her own personal website.
“She surfed across the world and Australia and performed at Glastonbury and the Isle of Wight festival and many other venues.
“In the biography on her ‘October Rocks’ website she says she is a professional singer, songwriter, surfer and shark enthusiast and a surfing competitor with ‘Boardmasters’.
“She says she splits her time between London and the south-west and had performed on nine stages at two festivals and at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, the ExCel, in Gothenburg, Birmingham Symphony Hall and Melbourne.”
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| Smoke's Up: Outside Court |
Surrey-born Hamlyn-Wright’s benefit applications were made in New Malden. “She provided a letter that documented a considerable number of ailments and illnesses,” added Mr. Price.
“These flare-ups can cause extra lethargy in her joints, which become extremely painful and swollen, effecting her movement and dexterity, she claimed.”
Hamlyn-Wright wrote: “I can suffer temporary paralysis when standing up.”
“She surfed, she travelled, she performed and none of that was volunteered,” said the prosecutor.
“She was awarded the higher rate of the care component because she said she required 120 minutes a day for a carer to assist her getting in and out of bed and 60 minutes every day for washing.”
The benefits were paid directly into Hamlyn-Wright’s bank account for her to employ the necessary carers and she said she also needed help using the toilet.
“The benefit was awarded on the basis she was virtually unable to walk and needed full-time care.”
However, in April, 2017 her claim was referred to DWP investigators who found evidence of her active lifestyle, the jury were told.
“Her website said: ‘October is never without her surfboard and is making a name for herself on the scene and is competing on the UK professional tour.’
“There are videos and photos from 2013 onwards and she was also put under surveillance for a month and is walking, shopping, climbing stairs, performing and engaging with her audience between songs unaided and without obvious pain.”
Hamlyn-Wright was questioned at Kingston-upon-Thames Jobcentre on November 14, 2017 and confirmed she was receiving Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance.
“She said she was in pain every day and sometimes in manic and goes into the sea alone during the night and that she was not very good at surfing.
“When she did surf she would spend several days in bed afterwards and said she had friends to help her.
“She was vague about how far she could walk and said she did not have any good days.”
Trial continues………
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