Category Archives: Victimless Crimes

In a truly victimless crime, two enterprising teen girls were arrested for breaking into a water park after hours, eating Italian ice cups without paying, and going down the slides, police records show.

Logan Brooke Larrimore, 18, and Farren Marie Lane, 18, were both charged with third-degree burglary for sneaking into Myrtle Beach Waves Water Park by jumping the fence at around 4 am, Larrimore later confessed to police.

The two girls took Snapchat videos of the whole thing, including eating $8 worth of Italian ice. Police were able to track them down through the names on their Snapchat accounts and DMV records. The Thelma and Louise of frankly awesome summer fun were arrested on Tuesday.

They appeared to cooperate with police, though: We went down all the slides, Larrimore said during her interrogation, according to TheState.com.

I know these white blonde girls are privileged legal adults who should know better but also maybe they should be excused for their crimes on account of their crimes being wholesome and kind of awesome?

[Image: Myrtle Beach Police]

Read more here:

Two Teen Girls Were Arrested Snapchatting Breaking Into Water Park And Having A Blast - Oxygen (blog)

The recent shooting of Congressman Scalise and four of his colleagues in Alexandria, Virginia shocks decent people everywhere. Panhandle Libertarians condemn this violence, and wish them all a speedy recovery.

To my mind, and as terrible as it sounds, this shooting was bound to happen. Democrat and Republican violent rhetoric is scale high. Politically related violence inside the United States seems higher than anything seen since I was a kid in the 1960s. We are fed a daily media diet of protesters attacking other protesters, of comedians shaking severed heads, of plays in the park assassinating the president, and how the Deep State is a government unto itself. It seems those dishing out justice actually lead by political standards. No evidence leads to investigations while big admitted crimes are ignored (Bush, Obama, Clinton, Comey, Clapper, Brennan, for example). It is truly a head-shaking, sad situation. At times like this, there is always some nut ready to pick up a gun.

But, more and more, you also hear how people are coming to realize that using force to achieve social or political goals leads only to tragedy and more violence. You using force to defend your life, liberty or property against violent criminals? You bet. Government using force for double standards, creating victimless crimes, taking your property without charges, or regulating your liberty away? Thats not OK, and just makes life worse.

It just happens to be a Libertarian message too.

Pete Blome, chair, Northwest Florida Libertarian Party, Niceville

See the article here:

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Using force makes life worse - The Northwest Florida Daily News

Charges have been filed to 11 of the 19 individuals that were arrested in a two-day undercover sex trafficking sting.

The Anoka County Attorneys Office charged 11 individuals with felony-level counts of electronic solicitation of a child on June 30. According to the Anoka County Attorneys Office, charges are likely for the additional six cases and are currently under review.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) led the operation with assistance from the Fridley Police Department and the Anoka County Sheriffs Office. The Plymouth Police Department and the Dakota County Sheriffs Office provided additional assistance.

According to the BCA, the sting operation utilized undercover agents and investigators to pose as children on multiple social media platforms between the ages of 13 to 15. Subjects believed they were going to meet with the children for sex. On June 27-29, law enforcement officers took the 11 suspects into custody after agreeing to meet at an apartment complex on East River Road in Fridley, according to the criminal complaints.

Earlier this week, law enforcement from multiple agencies executed a well-organized initiative targeting those with desires to prey upon the youth of our community. Simply stated, this will not be tolerated, said Paul Young, Chief of the Anoka County Attorneys Office Criminal Division. Kudos to all of the law enforcement experience and labor channeled for this investigation.

Young added, While this investigation and these crimes did not involve any real children, we know these are not victimless crimes. This type of crime predatory conduct in search of exploiting children has no geographic boundary and impacts our whole community.

Ten victims of alleged human trafficking ring were rescued, including one juvenile that has been placed in protective custody by Anoka County.

Charged defendants are: Jesus A. Sandoval-Rogel, 27, of St. Paul; Brandon W. Blackwell, 20, of Savage; Andrew J. Eilers, 21, of Clear Lake; Vadim S. Tsvik, 28, of Blaine; Joseph D. Paradise, 28, of Fridley; Arnold K. Leas, 54 of Fridley; Steve Yang, 24, of Chanhassen; Chad J. Eckel, 31, of North Branch; Shane J. Jourdain, 22; Michael D. Griep, 29, of Columbia Heights; Jose A. Vasquez-Reyes, 28, of Cottage Grove.

Read more here:

Eleven people charged in child sex trafficking sting - Sun Focus

[Part 3 in a series with regard to sexual abuse and exploitation.]

Its a lifelong process, the road back to whatever falls within the range of normalcy that is unique to each individual as they deal with the fallout of having been sexually abused.

The vastness and enormity of it all often overwhelms and consumes survivors deep down to their core. Their path back toward recovery is both arduous and painful but also uplifting and only really happens when one confronts the myriad of emotions and issues that befall the persons who have been victimized of such crimes. Its a double-edged sword of sorts for the persons who must endure reliving and talking about the traumas perpetrated upon them by sexual predators.

For Tamela Burckhardt the path toward recovery has at times been excruciating. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, abuse of heavy drugs and alcohol, to help mask feelings of inadequacy, guilt and shame. Mental health professionals, while quick to point out there really is no exact quotient per se, point out those are all issues in common that survivors of abuse commonly must deal with. And there are many others.

But she also has emerged stronger and now helps counsel others who are just now taking their initial steps toward recovery.

Its not a perfect healing youre never going to be the person you were, but you could be a stronger person, you can be happy... you can get back to that point. But there is no such thing as a perfect healing, Burckhardt, 49, explained.

As she tells it, having not really known any other way, Tamela thought the abuse was normal. I know it sounds strange but it had gone on for so long thats all Id really known.

Dealing with the ensuing aftermath as an adolescent was agonizing. I didnt deal with it, I was a drug addict, I self medicated, said Burckhardt. All the emotional problems I felt guilty, I felt that it was my fault because I got told that all the time from my abusers. At the same time, I know it sounds strange, but I thought that was the normal because its all Id ever known. It wasnt until later that I realized this isnt normal.

There is no typical, everyone responds differently when it comes to dealing with the emotional and behavioral issues that present themselves as survivors grind toward recovery, explains Jared Wilhelm, LPC, a longtime mental health professional at Southeast Arizona Behavioral Health Services in Safford. Hes also quick to emphasize exploitation and abuse are not victimless crimes.

But on the flip side, he said, survivors who deal and confront their issues, through fortitude and resilience, are able to rise above and come out wounded yet stronger. The trauma does not have to define them, says Wilhelm.

But there is no denying the emotional scars and wounds will need healing, lots of healing.

I wont ever be fully healed, says Tamela. But I get a little closer each day and Im able to handle it a little better each day. Seeking help, though, is paramount, a point Wilhelm stresses as well. This isnt about getting people to SEABHS, this is about getting people the help they need. There are resources available there are online support groups, seek them out. said Wilhelm. You can find happiness again.

The disassociation Wilhelm says are why drug and alcohol abuse are often emotional crutches for survivors. What happens is children and others who are being abused may try to go to a safe place in their mind as a coping mechanism and drugs and alcohol can have that same effect.

Clean and sober now for several years, Tamela helps others on online support and crisis intervention.

What I say to anyone who may be trying to deal with this on their own is get help immediately, said Tamela. Once you start dealing with it all thats what it takes. It wont ever be the same, whatever normal is, but that will never be. You just try to get as close to whatever that is for you and take it day by day.

Of course, some days are better than others, she says, even after all this time. She also credits husband, Ralph Burckhardt, with offering the support she still and will continue to need.

When they met, Ralph said he could tell there was some underlying problem, and she credits him as being a rock when it comes to helping and support her as she continues in her recovery.

Its a work in progress, she readily admits. As far as advising others who may be grappling with the same issues: You have to talk about it the first step toward healing is talking about it.

Excerpt from:

SHATTERING INNOCENCE: Survivor's path toward recovery - Benson News Sun

Michael Shannon-National Columnist

If youd told me last week there were two California politicians who believed in borders, proving residency and preventing identity theft I would have thought you were auditioning for an anchor chair on CNN. Even one actually happening would not have seemed even remotely possible, yet all three were witnessed by credible observers.

Lets start with Rep. Maxine Waters. Maxine is the Alex Jones of the left. She shows up spouting conspiracy theories that no one outside an antifa seance could possibly believe. But instead of being sidelined by major media outlets, Maxine is the face of The Resistance in the Opposition Media because her crackpot theories usually involve President Trump.

Maxine is a stanch open borders advocate with a zero rating from both the Federation for American Immigration Reform and US Border Control. She supports amnesty and opposes making English the official language. Maxine isnt bothered by the fact illegals take the jobs her black constituency formerly filled.

That all changed just prior to a recent town hall meeting in Gardena, CA. Waters decided to join the Border Patrol when she got word that a small group of invaders was poised to jump the boundary and make their way into her district.

Waters staff asked for identification from everyone who pre-registered to attend. Frankly Waters is one of the last offices where Id expect to hear a demand for papers, please. Democrats assure us asking for photo ID before voting is an unconstitutional imposition on a citizens rights, but requiring a complete document workup before entering a Waters town hall is well in this case it was attendance suppression.

Pre-registered attendees that didnt live in her district were given yellow wristbands, then when the meeting began everyone with a yellow band was barred from entering. This whole Maxine Joins the Migra was particularly ironic since the LA Times points out Waters doesnt even live in her district.

Congressman Rod Blum (R-Iowa), who does live in his district, was pilloried in May when his staff prescreened attendees to make sure they were residents. An ignorant local TV news poodle ambushed Blum and demanded to know why his staff was asking for proof of residency when you represent all Iowans shouldnt all Iowans have a voice at the table or at least have the option to?

Evidently the OpMedia thinks asking for ID in Iowa is Nazilike, but is fine with Waters only representing district residents and OneUnited bank.

The only surprising element in Waters new documentation regime was the absence of recent legal documentation convert Attorney General Xavier Becerra. Becerras new crackdown on false drivers licenses flies in the face of the states official policy on identity theft.

Im sure youve heard of so-called victimless crimes where breaking the law allegedly hurts no one? Offenses like dope smoking, ho poking and conservative stroking? California has gone one better, identity theft is now a perpetrator-less crime, where the law is broken but no one is guilty.

Many would label these examples of selective rule enforcement and law enforcement as a double standard. While accurate, that only scratches the surface. What Waters, Becerra and California politics exemplify is Venezuela on the installment plan.

The power of government is used to curry favor with approved ethnic groups and reward correct political thinking. This continues until the money for handouts is gone or the punished rise up. Then Waters, Becerra and left will learn reality eventually resides in every district.

Read more:

Column: The Time Maxine Waters Cares About Borders - Kdminer

In Britain and other developed countries, disposing of unwanted things is taken for granted. There is (lots of) legislation in place to ensure waste is collected, transported and treated safely without having an impact on either health or the environment. But waste management is a costly business, increasingly seen by organised criminals and opportunists alike as an easy way to make quick money.

Two recent instances of waste crime, in my local area, show how this can happen. In the first, a deserted factory, used for the illegal storage of 5,000 tonnes of partially treated waste was deliberately set alight using an accelerant. It contained combustible materials, such as plastics and decomposing food, making it particularly fire prone. The police investigation looking for the source of the waste, as well as the reason it was set alight, is ongoing.

Illegal waste dumps such as this are becoming an increasing problem, both in open countryside and hidden in rented buildings due to the potential income available from these crimes. Estimates from waste industry experts put illegal profits from this one operation somewhere between 400,000 to 500,000 for the cost of just two weeks rental on the building.

This kind of thing appears to be a victimless crime, but it isnt. The building owner in the case of the illegal storage fire (who appears not to have been involved) faces losses. And we are all victims: burning this illegally stored waste has polluting impacts on both local air quality and local watercourses. The incineration of waste is one of the most highly regulated waste management processes, and rightly so.

Fire services managed to control the fire, so estimate that only 10-15% of the waste present was burnt. This leaves the problem of moving what remains to proper treatment facilities who pays for this? Or the cost of the 65 fire service personnel it took to control the fire?

In the second incident, a large quantity of asbestos was dumped. Asbestos was widely used in the UK in buildings for insulation, flooring and roofing until it was discovered that it can cause serious lung conditions, including cancer, asbestosis and pleural disease. It is now banned in the UK, but is still present in buildings built before 2000.

The removal, transport and disposal of asbestos is highly dangerous, heavily regulated and consequently expensive. This makes it attractive to criminals. Charging high rates for removal and dumping for free generates an easy profit. Again, wider society is the victim: there are serious health implications for anyone coming into contact with this waste, including the people that dumped it.

The bill for clearing this incident will be paid by local council tax payers. Nationally, clearing fly-tipping (leaving waste on land that doesnt have a licence to accept it) costs tax-payers in excess of 200m a year. Clearance of fly-tipping on private land falls to the landowner, be that a private individual or charity such as the Woodland Trust, who report an annual clearance bill in excess of 350,000.

These waste crimes are taking place in plain sight. There are underlying causes to these crimes, which are allowing waste crime to flourish. Correct, legal waste disposal is expensive, with landfill and incineration charges now around 100 per tonne. This is why the profits of these crimes are high.

It seems that the traditional deterrents for these crimes, fines and prison sentences, are not working, or are not tough enough. It is too easy for criminals to obtain documentation that makes their operations appear compliant. For example, waste carriers registration and waste exemptions, can be easily and quickly obtained online. These make waste operations - on the surface - appear legal.

It is also too easy for criminals to gain access to waste. On a small scale scrap men informally remove white goods and other metal objects from housing estates across the country. They have the implied consent of the householder who leaves unwanted items out and does not report their disappearance as a crime. Parts of these items which dont have a resale value are often fly-tipped meaning the householder also, unknowingly, commits a crime themselves. There are more complaints to the local authority about the noise these collectors make with their bugles and loudspeaker appeals for any old iron than about the removal of items.

These informal or bogus collectors do not restrict themselves to scrap metal iron items. Used, unwanted textiles are worthwhile waste stream targets too because of the high prices they command in both secondhand markets and as a scrap.

Here, different tactics are employed, from the small-scale individual fishing for the contents of textile banks in car parks (with some fatalities) to the organised collection of bulk unwanted textiles from households. This is done either by the distribution of bogus collection bags to all households in a defined area, or the kerbside collection of bags distributed by a reputable charity before their own collection teams can retrieve them. Either way, it deprives honest charities of a much-needed funding source.

On a larger scale, the offer of cheap waste collections can be quite tempting. Waste is removed, the service paid for and then the waste is fly-tipped or stored at illegal, unregulated, waste sites leading to an immediate profit at a cost to us all. Assets of almost 1m have recently been recovered from one such waste crime through the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The Environment Agency and local councils respond to these crimes when they take place. They also work with other agencies, such as HM Revenue and Customs and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency to disrupt waste crime. Householders should make use of local council waste collections and check their local councils website for information on the disposal of larger items. Bogus collections of textiles can be avoided by checking with your local councils trading standards team, or checking the charity register.

Across the UK illegal waste management practices are now a multi-million pound problem, with some serious underlying problems that need to be addressed. Apart from the associated criminality, fly-tipping damages the environment, poses risks to human health here and abroad, undermines legitimate businesses, reduces tax income so others have to pay more, and just looks really ugly. With the potential for easy, high profits - waste crime is joining the ranks of organised crime alongside drugs and human trafficking, cyber-crime and child exploitation and this has wider implications for society.

We must remember that many environmental regulations have been put in place as a response to serious incidents and resist the prospect of further deregulation. This may stand to cost us in terms of damage not only to the economy and environment but also to human and public health.

The rest is here:

Waste crime: the multi-million pound swindle - The Conversation UK

Since being arrested for possession of stimulant drugs on June 2, it is assumed that 30-year-old actor Ryo Hashizumes career is over. As Mark Schilling wrote in the June 15 Japan Times, Hashizumes latest film, in which he played a supporting role, was pulled from theaters. It reopened June 17, but with Hashizumes scenes deleted. For all intents and purposes, he had become a nonperson in show business.

And I mean that literally. Owing to the way drug busts are covered in the media, anyone even accused of using illegal substances is presented as not just a criminal, but something subhuman. This idea was established in the 1980s with an anti-drug public service announcement that used the slogan, Ningen yamemasu ka?, meaning, Will you stop being a person? By taking drugs, that is.

Media critic Chiki Ogiue mentioned the campaign on his Session-22 radio show back in January.

But do you stop being a person when you have cancer? he asked rhetorically, emphasizing that drug addiction should be treated as a disease rather than as a mortal sin. The stigma is built into the vocabulary used to talk about people with drug habits. Invariably, those who have kicked their habits through whatever means have been corrected (ksei), a word that stresses incarceration, whereas Ogiue thinks a better verb is recover (kaifuku), as if from an illness.

But ksei represents the reality in that drug convictions lead to time in prison rather than time in hospitals, and prisons arent designed to cure addicts of their dependencies. The radio show and other sources mention that in Japan, more than 60 percent of those who do time for drug crimes end up being rearrested for drug crimes after they get out of jail.

The public thinks drug users deserve hard punishment because drug use is seen as a lapse in moral rectitude that can have a bad effect on the community. Ogiue thinks the opposite is actually the case; that downplaying a drugs health-abating properties can make the drug attractive to certain people.

For these reasons, Ogiue, working with experts, former addicts and listeners of his program, came up with guidelines for the media when covering drug-related stories, since such coverage will affect addicts in treatment programs and their supporters, including families. The media should always stress that drug use is an illness requiring treatment rather than a crime that needs to be punished. It should incorporate coverage of people who give and receive such treatment, including recovering addicts. It should also show links between drugs and social problems, such as poverty and abuse, whenever applicable.

More significantly, the guidelines tell reporters what to avoid, including images of white powder and syringes, comments that express disappointment in the accused as either a person or a professional, extreme coverage using helicopters or hidden cameras, suspicion of drug use as the basis for a scoop and creating beautiful stories out of anecdotes of drug recovery with the help of loved ones.

For these efforts, Ogiues show received The Galaxy Grand Prix Award for excellence in broadcasting, though, given the usual overblown tone of the Hashizume coverage, those efforts dont seem to have had the desired effect yet.

In fact, the authorities seem to be moving in a progressive direction faster than the media is. On another radio show, Bunka Hosos (Nippon Cultural Broadcasting) June 13 edition of Golden Radio, writer Maki Fukasawa reviewed Ogiues guidelines and talked about how the government was now considering switching the impetus of drug sentencing from punishment to treatment in line with other countries approaches. Recently, Japans judicial system has expanded its use of suspended sentences for certain crimes. In the case of drug offenses, convicted persons spend part of their sentence in prison and part in a recovery program. The main purpose of the new law is to prevent repeat offenses, and as Fukasawa points out, the program will also need to ensure that ex-offenders can secure jobs once they are back out in the world, since unemployment is a strong incentive for falling back into a drug habit.

That includes show-business people. Fukasawa used the example of Robert Downey Jr., who was a serious drug addict at one point and even did jail time for his habit. He eventually got sober and is now one of the highest paid actors in the world, but as Fukasawa said, that couldnt happen in Japan because the media would never allow the public to forget about his drug use.

What Fukasawa didnt mention is that while Downeys career has been rehabilitated in the U.S., he is still persona non grata in Japan. Some years ago when he came here to promote one of his Iron Man movies, immigration officers detained him for six hours because of his felony drug conviction. Eventually, he was allowed in, but hes never been back since.

Drug convictions leave an indelible mark, and while the Japanese media perpetuates the stigma due to its proclivity for sensationalism, its the law and the rationale behind the law that creates the stigma in the first place. In his quest to change media behavior, Ogiue makes the age-old argument that personal drug use does not directly harm anyone else, but he doesnt go so far as to say that drug possession is a victimless crime. The victim is the user and, by extension, his or her family.

Given the examples he used, Ogiue was obviously talking about methamphetamines, but he doesnt distinguish between stimulant drugs and other kinds, because the police dont either. (There are different laws for stimulants and for narcotics, but no appreciable difference in how theyre prosecuted.)

Marijuana users in Japan are also branded as criminals, but can they also be described as being ill? In many countries now, pot itself is used to treat certain medical conditions. The demonization of drug users is a function of the demonization of recreational drugs, regardless of whether or not they lead to addiction.

Here is the original post:

Once a drug user in Japan, always an outcast - The Japan Times

Calgary police say they've apprehended 11 youth who were being sexually exploited so far this year and helped another 11 adults exit the sex trade.

The statistics for the first half of 2017 are not up significantly from the same time last year, but Staff Sgt. Jason Walker said the numbers only scratch the surface of what's actually going on in the city.

"These activities are beyond under-reported. They are, by their very nature, intentionally suppressed and hidden," Walker said Wednesday in a release.

"Victims are often reluctant to self-identify or seek helpand, in some cases, research indicates that many cannot self-identify, as they are vulnerable and limited in their capacity to recognize that they are in fact being trafficked and sexually exploited to begin with."

He said human trafficking and sexual exploitation remainhigh priorities for the Calgary Police Service (CPS).

In the summer, especially,with more people outdoors and in public places, police are nowasking the public for assistance in "recognizing potential signs" of victims being exploited.

Police said victims often don't speak English, are kept isolated or guarded when in public and may be coached by others when they are responding to questions.

Victims may also be unaware of what city they are in and be scared to seek help because they fear it will bring harm to themselves or their families. They may even try to protect their traffickers from being detected, as they develop loyalties toward them as a coping mechanism.

"The illicit elements of the sex trade are not victimless crimes," Walker said.

Traffickers cannot claim ignorance of an exploited victim's age to avoid being charged with child sexual exploitation, he added.

For adults looking to exit the sex trade, theCPS Prostitution Exit Initiativeoffers immediate help and is available by calling 403-428-8585.

Anyone with information about human trafficking activity is asked to call police at 403-266-1234.

Read more:

Calgary police ask for help in identifying potential victims of sexual ... - CBC.ca

Police in central Texas conducted a raid on Monday that resulted in the arrest of a local man suspected of being the mastermind behind illegal gambling operations that could have been bringing in up to $9.6 million a year.

According to a report from local television broadcaster KXAN-TV, the arrest of Chong Pak at his home in the small Austin suburb of Hutto followed an investigation that began in late-January while the 53-year-old has subsequently been charged with money laundering and engaging in organized crime, which carry a maximum penalty of life in prison along with a fine of $10,000.

The broadcaster reported that the raid by the Austin Police Department and Williamson County SWAT also resulted in the seizure of $724,736 in cash, which is believed to be income Pak illicitly amassed as a result of his illegal gambling operations, as well as three vehicles valued at around $94,550 and gold and silver ingots thought to be worth approximately $7,500.

KXAN-TV reported that Pak is suspected of being the proprietor behind six to eight illegal gambling rooms offering a selection of leased eight-liner machines, which are similar to more traditional video slots, while the ongoing crackdown has moreover resulted in the subsequent arrests of at least nine other suspects.

Troy Officer from the Austin Police Departments organized crime unit reportedly declared that there are about 80 illegal gaming rooms in the Austin area located in warehouses, homes and storefronts and that just one of these small operations could earn a proprietor at least $1.2 million a year.

Anyone who says these game rooms are a victimless crime and people are willingly taking part in this, have no idea what the ultimate pocket is for the illegal activity, Officer told KXAN-TV before adding that the cash found at Paks home most likely represents just a drop in the bucket.

Officer additionally stated that the areas illegal gaming rooms are a breeding ground for robbery and violent crimes while their proceeds are often utilized to fund illicit activities including drugs trafficking and terrorism.

We may not get you today [and] we may not get you tomorrow but we will get you [and] we will put you in jail and we will come after your money and take what you covet most about doing these operations; your illegal games, Officer warned other illegal operators via the broadcaster.

Police arrest Texas man suspected of running illegal gambling rooms was last modified: June 29th, 2017 by Adam Morgan

austinillegal gambling operationschong paktroy officer

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Police arrest Texas man suspected of running illegal gambling rooms - World Casino Directory

A benefits cheat who claimed she "was virtually unable to walk" was caught out when investigators discovered she was a drummer in a marching band.

Rhona Vessey told the Department for Work and Pensions she "could only walk 20 metres without getting out of breath" and "felt anxious if people looked at her".

The 50-year-old, who in one year fraudulently claimed 6,251.04 in disability benefits, also said she often "could not carry a shopping bag" because of her physical impairments.

Investigators carried out undercover surveillance on Vessey after receiving a tip-off and on three occasions watched as she banged a drum with a marching band.

Vessey, of Little Eaton, Derbyshire, admitted one count of fraud and was handed a ten-week community order at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

District Judge Jonathan Taaffe said: "This is not a victimless crime because there is no bottomless pit of money that people can fraudulently claim from.

"You claimed benefits you were not entitled to and the reality is that society and the courts take a serious view on crimes like this.

"You made the claim and then participated in marching activities with others."

Prosecutor Lynn Bickley said: "We say this was a claim that was dishonest from the outset.

"She made the claim saying she was virtually unable to walk, needed attention to her leg three times during the day and prolonged attention during the night.

"In her claim she said she could only walk between 20 and 50 metres without getting out of breath.

"She said often she could not go outside her front door, or go to shops and supermarkets on her own.

"She said she could often not use shopping bags and felt anxious if people looked at her when she was outside.

"But information was received that she was a member of a marching band and regularly took part in lengthy and complex marching routines."

Miss Bickley said investigators for the DWP went to investigate on Vessey and used secret cameras to catch her playing in the Derby Midshipmen Band, reports the Derby Telegraph.

She said: "The result of the surveillance was that on three occasions she was observed marching in the band with a drum strapped to her shoulder and there were no limitations on her mobility."

Judge Taaffe ordered that she pay 85 costs, an 85 victim surcharge and handed her a ten-week curfew, confining her to her address between 7pm and 7am each day.

Peter Jones, defending, said Vessey had lost her husband "relatively recently" and is currently jointly claiming employment support allowance with her new partner.

He said: "This is a lady that feels great shame that she before the court."

Read more:

Benefits cheat who claimed she was virtually unable to walk - Mirror - Mirror.co.uk