Jump directly to the content
REAL DEAL

Benefits cheat who claimed bad back left her unable to walk caught out after doing a BUNGEE JUMP on TV show coach trip

A CLEANER who tried to pocket a payout from her bosses by claiming a work injury left her barely able to walk was exposed when she was spotted doing a bungee jump on a reality TV show.

Noreen Murray, 31, said she suffered a severe back injury while lifting a heavy bag of laundry and claimed she was bedbound for two days, unable to walk or stand for more than 30 minutes.

 Murray claimed that she had been bedbound for two days
10
Murray claimed that she had been bedbound for two daysCredit: Channel 4

She claimed more than £21,475 in damages from insurers for loss of earnings and general damages.

But the mother-of-two's fraud came undone when she was filmed in the Channel 4 programme Coach Trip only four days after she claimed to have suffered her injury.

In the show, filmed over a fortnight in Valencia, Spain, Murray was seen jumping off a bridge connected to an elasticated rope and swinging underneath the arch before landing back on the parapet.

After the jump, she was filmed saying it was "the best thing I've ever done."

 Noreen Murray was filmed doing a bungee jump - four days after she claimed to have suffered a back injury
10
Noreen Murray was filmed doing a bungee jump - four days after she claimed to have suffered a back injuryCredit: Channel 4
 Noreen Murray admitted fraud by false representation in court
10
Noreen Murray admitted fraud by false representation in courtCredit: Cavendish Press
 Noreen, left, told the show that jumping off the bridge was the best thing she had ever done
10
Noreen, left, told the show that jumping off the bridge was the best thing she had ever doneCredit: Channel 4

Prosecuting Iain Simkin said the fraud took place between February and March 2015 while Murray was working at Blue Rainbow Apartments and Aparthotel in Manchester city centre.

Investigations began when the programme was screened on TV - after Murray's lawyers offered the insurers to settle out of court at £6,500 for loss of earnings and "general damages".

No money was paid out to Murray but the cost of hiring lawyers and doctors during the fraud investigation was said to be "substantial."

At Manchester Crown Court, Murray, from Broughton, Salford, admitted fraud by false representation but escaped with a 10 month jail term suspended for two years.

 Murray was on the Channel 4 programme Coach trip when she performed the daring leap
10
Murray was on the Channel 4 programme Coach trip when she performed the daring leapCredit: Channel 4
 Murray, just before she launches herself off the bridge
10
Murray, just before she launches herself off the bridgeCredit: Channel 4
 The mother of two had said she had suffered a severe back injury while at work
10
The mother of two had said she had suffered a severe back injury while at workCredit: Channel 4
 Murray must now be electronically tagged for four months
10
Murray must now be electronically tagged for four monthsCredit: Cavendish Press

Prosecuting, Iain Simkin said she had suffered a back injury after picking up a heavy laundry bag, claiming she felt a "sharp pain".

He said: "However, after a investigation into this claim she was found to be working four days after the accident."

He said she had told her manager she had to go home for a meeting but didn't return and instead stayed home, telling the court she had "conjured up false evidence" about her back injury.

She was then diagnosed with soft tissue damage to her lower back.

He said: "She was then seen on TV on an episode of the show Coach Trip, taking part in a bridge swing.

"This is similar to a bungee jump, but instead of going straight down, she swing under the bridge, around and back up again. This was filmed in Valencia, four days after reporting the injury."

He said she had written in her application for the show that she was in "robust health" and could take part in "any physical activity."

He further told the court she had minor damage to her back, possibly from a previous injury, saying: "She knew of this and wanted to make money from it, or that she did in fact hurt herself slightly and played on this to make a gain for herself.

"She had never complained at work.

"She had never told anyone she had a bad back or anything like that, she just made this claim without telling her managers. In my submission, this was planned. The medics weren't to know this was a false claim. The injuries could have stemmed from the work but she didn't complain about it."

 The court heard Murray, left, had a MRI scan that showed she had minor damage in her back, possibly from a previous injury
10
The court heard Murray, left, had a MRI scan that showed she had minor damage in her back, possibly from a previous injuryCredit: Channel 4
 Murray was participating on a Channel 4 show when she was spotted
10
Murray was participating on a Channel 4 show when she was spottedCredit: Channel 4

Murray later attended a police station but maintained she was ''still in pain with her back.''

Her lawyer Michael Balmer added: "She does have a bad back, previously stemming from an earlier injury and she does have health issues and she is the mother of young children."

Murray was ordered to be electronically tagged for four months and was ordered to abide by a 8am to 8pm curfew and pay a £100 surcharge.

Judge Martin Rudland told her: "This is a very unfortunate chapter in your life and was a foolish enterprise.

"I suspect there was a minor injury caused by a slight event at work involving your back but a scan showed that there was minor damage possibly from an old injury.

"'Yet you went to work and gave rise to a claim. You were always going to be found out. You could have accepted £6,500 instead you proceeded to continue and the costs of the solicitors you involved and the medics was substantial."



We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.