A pastor in Cheshire's been accused of wrongly claiming £36,000 in disability benefits.
Stephanie Meakin, 51, began claiming disability benefits in 1995 for severe back pain which significantly affected her movement to the point where she required walking and bathing aides and body braces.
Jurors at Liverpool Crown Court (above) were told that Stephanie Meakin's condition had allegedly significantly improved since then and she hadn't told the Department of Work and Pensions.
The court was told that Mrs Meakin, who leads Church of Abundant Life in Crewe, had allegedly performed baptisms in water, wore high heels, climbed a steep hill, danced at a Christmas party and ran from her car to a cashpoint.
Kevin Slack, prosecuting, told the court: "The prosecution says she dishonestly failed to notify that improvement in her disability to the DWP and carried on claiming benefit she knew she was no longer entitled."
Mrs Meakin denies the claims and her trial continues.
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Article by Aaron James
Tola Mbakwe is a multimedia journalist for Premier.
