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Sandra Turnbull pocketed £22,000 in disability living allowance while taking part in reserve forces training. She told claims managers she could walk “zero” meters without being struck by
severe pain. But Turnbull, 44, was working 12-hour shifts as a hospital doctor, had enrolled in the territorial army and volunteered for intensive training courses with the RAF. Her
ex-husband told investigators that she had enjoyed scuba diving, a walking holiday exploring Rome and was a keen cyclist while receiving the handouts. Turnbull, who has been suspended by the
General Medical Council after admitting benefit fraud, now faces a disciplinary tribunal hearing. She pleaded guilty to three charges of making dishonest representations to obtain
£22,279.000 of benefits and was yesterday sentenced to a 12-month community order at Newcastle upon Tyne Crown Court. Vince Ward, prosecuting, revealed Turnbull, of Newcastle, first claimed
for disability living allowance in June 2003 and was awarded the “higher” rate of payment because of a severe hip condition. The mother-of-two subsequently completed benefit renewal forms
without declaring her condition had drastically improved. Mr Ward said in 2006 Turnbull enrolled in the Army reserve unit Northern Field Hospital and volunteered for a training placement
with the RAF. During training she was winched from a helicopter. Richard Herrmann, defending, insisted Turnbull still suffers “a significant” problem with her hip which led to a replacement
operation last year.