Admitting to unlawfully collecting Statutory Sick Pay while operating her own body-piercing enterprise and taking on other clients, a Telford resident who insisted hip pain kept her from walking, driving, or holding a job has been instructed to fork over upwards of £6,000.
Working as a private personal carer, Claire Hopkinson of Telford, Shropshire, unlawfully secured Statutory Sick Pay across the period from March 28, 2024, to October 28, 2024. To sustain the deception, Hopkinson submitted false medical fitness certificates—commonly known as fit notes—alongside WhatsApp messages and emails. She claimed that hip pain prevented her from working and that she could not walk, drive or perform her duties as a personal assistant.
Investigation Uncovers Private Care Work and Fabricated Surgery
An inquiry led by Telford & Wrekin Council dismantled Hopkinson’s claims after investigators discovered she was working for two other individuals through a private care company. Beyond her care work, officials found she was operating her own local body-piercing business.
The council’s investigation revealed that Hopkinson’s falsehoods extended far beyond claiming she was unable to work because of hip pain. She fabricated accounts of hospital stays and claimed to have undergone a hip replacement operation. Investigators examining her electronic communications and medical fitness certificates determined those medical events had been fabricated.
Hopkinson received £3,261.65 in Statutory Sick Pay to which she was not entitled.
Court Orders Repayment and Penalties Following Guilty Plea
During the inquiry, council officers interviewed Hopkinson under caution, prompting her to admit to the deception. On December 1, 2025, she pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation at court.
Telford & Wrekin Council publicised the case on December 16, 2025, as part of its efforts to highlight action against fraud involving public funds. Following her guilty plea, the court ordered Hopkinson to pay a fine and costs totalling £2,814. Coupled with the requirement to directly repay the £3,261.65 in falsely claimed sick pay, the combined amount exceeds £6,000. The local authority has not confirmed whether the full amount has already been repaid.
Councillor Richard Overton, deputy leader of Telford & Wrekin Council and cabinet member for highways, housing and enforcement, stated that the case demonstrated the authority’s commitment to tackling fraud and protecting public funds. He said fraudulent claims undermine trust and divert resources away from people who genuinely need support, while urging residents to report suspected fraud so that public money could be safeguarded.
