Benefits Britain: FIVE of the UK's most SHAMELESS fraudsters

Unfortunately, this is not the setup to a harmless joke but a list of just some of the shameless fraudulent claimants who helped cost British taxpayers ?3.4billion in overpaid benefits in 2013/14.

Amongst the staggering amount of cash wasted are thousands of pounds claimed by swindlers.

Here, Express.co.uk lists five of the most shameless examples … 

#1 – A DRAG queen who claimed ?88,000 in benefits while pretending he needed round-the-clock care was jailed in August 2013.

Known as Tilly on stage, 49-year-old Mark Hawthorn was handed a six-month jail sentence after making fraudulent benefit claims between November 2003 and March 2012.

Judge Michael Challinor said Hawthorn was guilty of "breathtaking" fraud.

"You should have confined your acting ability to female impersonation rather than defrauding the state," the judge told him at Stafford Crown Court.

Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP) said they tracked down the scheming drag act after they were given an anonymous tip-off.

#2 – IN February this year, Manchester Crown Court heard how 58-year-old Mark Kemp pocketed ?35,000 in Disability Living Allowance over a 15-year period, despite being a fifth dan black belt martial arts expert.

The fifth dan black belt had pocketed ?35,000 in Disability Living Allowance over a 15-year period – despite touring his high-energy Shin Ga Do martial art classes around the country.

The dad-of two, from Shaw near Oldham, Greater Manchester, was caught out after investigators filmed him throwing kicks and blocking punches while touring his high-energy Shin Ga Do martial art classes around the country.

This was despite Shaw having claimed he could not walk without a stick.

It was later revealed the disability scammer was featured on the ju-jitsu club’s website.

Prosecuting, Nicola Daley said: "It was apparent to investigators that by 2012 Mr Kemp’s health had significantly improved which had not been reported. 

"Statements were taken from friends or associates and they described how he has been capable of taking martial arts classes for a number of years and had no difficulty being on his feet for over two hours."

Kemp was handed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for a year and a curfew to stay in his home between 9pm and 7am for four months.

#3 – A BLIND Paralympian earned a criminal record to sit alongside his record-breaking haul of three gold medals after admitting he scrounged ?10,000 in disability handouts.

Britain’s most-decorated judo star, Simon Jackson MBE, pocketed taxpayers’ money by claiming he needed taxis to and from his job at a nearby school.

He was exposed as a cheat by inspectors from the Department for Work and Pensions who filmed as the 40-year-old was driven to work by his 29-year-old wife Sarah.

Subsequent inquiries found there was no records of visually-impaired Jackson using the taxis he had been claiming for under the Government’s 'Access to Work' scheme.

The scrounging Paralympian claimed between ?15 and ?27 for each journey during the 10-month period.

Jackson – who won gold at the Paralympic Games in Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 – escaped jail despite admitting benefit fraud.

He was ordered to pay ?250 costs and complete a four-month community order. A curfew, which allowed him to carry on teaching judo to children, was also imposed.

Magistrate Stephen Ingram told the British sport hero: “You should be an example to your pupils and to all those around you. You are a role model to young people.

“You have let yourself down and will have this stigma around you long after what happens in this court.”

#4 – A "HIGHLY intelligent" mother-of-eight was jailed for four years back in May 2013 after committing one of the BIGGEST benefit frauds ever recorded.

Lying Amanda Webber claimed several of her children suffered from serious health problems – when some were actually performing in West End shows.

Webber fraudulently received more than ?350,000 in benefits and tax credit and at one point was receiving an income of ?10,000 a month.

The scheming mum received the overpayment over 12 years and at the time of her arrest lived in a lavish seven-bedroom property complete with a dance studio.

"This is an income which the vast majority of your hard-working ­fellow citizens can only dream of," said Judge Anthony Niblett.

"These benefits included private education and every material advantage, including a grand piano and dance studio in your last home, so as to encourage the undoubted talents of some of your children."

Among the disabilities Webber claimed the children suffered were “poor spatial awareness”.

However, Brighton Crown Court heard how some of her young thespians had journeyed to a London performing arts school by train during the rush hour.

#5 – THIS WEEK Timothy Abbot, who claimed he could hardly walk, was jailed after investigators filmed him jogging on a TREADMILL in the gym.

The spiritualist pocketed thousands of pounds in disability benefits in a scam that lasted more than 16 years.

Abbot, who claims to be able to contact the dead, claimed a total of ?170,000 in disability, council tax and housing benefits along with his wife Janette, 46.

She escaped jail yesterday after being sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

Between 1998 and 2014, scheming spiritualist Abbot claimed ?35,496 in incapacity benefit and ?22,848 in disability living allowance.

However, he was rumbled when undercover fraud investigators filmed him wearing a black muscle vest and exercising in a gym on January 8, 2012. 

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard how the medium was spotted lifting heavy dumbbells, using an exercise bike, rowing machine and running on a treadmill.