Surfer, 36, claimed £27k in disability benefits ‘while touring the world, competing in surf contests and playing a gig at Glastonbury
- October Hamlyn-Wright, 36, has claimed £27,000 in disability benefits
- She said she could not dress herself despite allegedly playing Glastonbury
- Hamlyn-Wright, of Newquay, toured Australia with her music, authorities found
- She provided a ‘considerable number of ailments’ in benefits applications
A musician, 36, got £27,000 benefits after claiming was too ill dress or wash herself despite allegedly saying she competed in a Boardmasters surfing competition, a court heard.
October Hamlyn-Wright, of Newquay, Cornwall, is on a fraud charge after authorities found evidence of her jet-setting lifestyle.
She toured Australia and Scandinavia, and played Glastonbury despite receiving the disability benefits across two years, it was alleged.
October Hamlyn-Wright (pictured), of Newquay, Cornwall, got £27,000 disability benefits after claiming was too ill dress or wash herself. She toured Australia and Scandinavia, and played Glastonbury despite receiving the disability benefits across two years, it was alleged
Hamlyn-Wright, now of Surrey, also made a music video boasting her surfing skills.
According to the Sun, Prosecutor Andrew Price said: ‘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.’
This is despite providing a ‘considerable number of ailments and illnesses’ in benefit applications in New Malden, Surrey, in 2013 and 2015.
Hamlyn-Wright (pictured), of Newquay, Cornwall, required an assistant to help get ready and showered, it was alleged
The Cornwall-native (pictured) called herself ‘a surfing competitor with Boardmasters’, the court heard
In one claim form, Hamlyn-Wright said her joints became ‘extremely painful and swollen, affecting her movement and dexterity’, Kingston Crown Court heard.
She allegedly required an assistant’s help for two hours getting ready and 60 for washing, Mr Prince told the court.
But the prosecutor added how she was openly willing to lead an active life – as on many occasions she had ‘surfed, travelled and performed’.
Hamlyn-Wright, now of Surrey, said she was a professional singer, songwriter, surfer and shark enthusiast, Kingston Upon Thames Crown Court was told (file image)
In 2017, her case was referred to Department of Work and Pensions investigators.
She claimed she was in ‘pain every day’ and ‘was not very good at surfing’.
Mr Price told the court: ‘She was vague about how far she could walk and said she did not have any good days.’
The defendant denies false representation. The trial continues.