A woman who suffered a flesh-eating infection following a gastric band operation failed to say when her condition improved.

Samantha Colquhoun, of Broadlands in Meltham, was left with a hole in her stomach when she contracted the infection after the surgery.

Due to this the 28-year-old struggled on her feet and couldn’t walk very far.

Because of her ailments, in 2010 she made a legitimate claim for disability living allowance.

Elizabeth Wright, prosecuting, said: “She made the initial claim on the basis that she had a hole in her stomach as a result of a gastric band operation that went badly wrong.

“The disability was then assessed in relation to what she could and couldn’t do.

“The DWP carried out some surveillance between June 24 and July 18 last year.

“They watched Miss Colquhoun as she walked without needing a stick or visible signs of discomfort.

“She walked further than the claim indicated and could walk uphill a bit more since the original application.”

In interview Colquhoun said she had good days and bad days but admitted that she should have informed the department about an improvement in her condition.

As as result of his she was paid £3,136 more than she should have been.

Colquhoun pleaded guilty to an offence of failing to notify a change in her circumstances likely to affect her entitlement to benefit.

Magistrates heard that at the time of the offence Colquhoun was looking after her sick partner who died last August.

She was also arrested on a drugs charge in November and is awaiting the outcome of this at crown court.

Her solicitor said that due to these factors, notifying the DWP of her change in circumstances was not at the forefront of her mind.

As punishment magistrates gave her a six week curfew between 6pm and 6am.

Colquhoun must also pay £60 victim surcharge.

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