UK woman claimed hip pain stopped her working, but ran piercing business

A UK woman who claimed that hip pain left her unable to walk, drive or work has been ordered to pay more than £6,000 after admitting to fraudulently claiming Statutory Sick Pay while working for other clients and running her own body-piercing business. Claire Hopkinson, a resident of Telford, Shropshire, submitted false medical fitness certificates, WhatsApp messages and emails to support her claims that she could not perform her duties as a personal carer. However, an investigation by Telford & Wrekin Council uncovered evidence that she was working as a personal assistant for two other individuals through a private care company. Investigators also found that she had fabricated claims about hospital stays and undergoing a hip replacement operation. She pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation on December 1, 2025.How the sick pay fraud was uncoveredAccording to Telford & Wrekin Council, Hopkinson fraudulently claimed Statutory Sick Pay between March 28, 2024, and October 28, 2024, while employed as a privately employed personal carer.During this period, she submitted medical fitness certificates, commonly known as fit notes, alongside WhatsApp messages and emails clai...