Benefits cheat who said he 'could barely walk' is exposed as cross-dressing drag queen

Benefit fraudster Mark Hawthorn was rumbled by investigators for claiming disability handouts - while working as a cross-dressing drag queen.

Scrounger Hawthorn, 49, frolicked on stage in his nightclub cabaret drag-act while pocketing £84,000 of taxpayers' cash in disability benefits.

Hawthorn, known as 'Aunt Tilly' who was one half of the drag queen act 'Glitter Lips' said he needed round the clock care and help getting out of bed.

He was caught when the DWP uncovered YouTube footage of him on stage in a blonde wig, high heels and cocktail dress.

The 50-second clip entitled 'The Legend of Aunt Tilly' shows Hawthorn energetically dancing to Tina Turner and Diana Ross songs in front of screaming crowds.

Stafford Crown Court heard he earned up to £250 a time working as a showgirl in nightclubs and bars across the West Midlands and Staffordshire.

He was even filmed by investigators working out in the gym despite claiming it took him five minutes just to walk 50 yards.

In total Hawthorn, from Tamworth, Staffs., was overpaid  £84,534 in incapacity and disability allowances over a nine year period.

He also avoided paying almost £4,000 in income tax and national insurance while working as his alter-ego for entertainment company Telstar.

The greedy fraudster pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to notify the Department of Work and Pensions of a change of circumstances and two counts of fraud.

He was jailed for six months by Judge Michael Challinor who described his offending as ''truly breathtaking''.

Sentencing Judge Challinor said: 'You have to understand the seriousness of this case, you have been claiming to be unable to work for almost nine years.

'You reported that you were almost completely helpless, needing help to get out of bed and even wash yourself.

'While you were claiming you appeared on stage as a female impersonator. Regularly wearing high heals in an act that was often energetic.

'All the while you also paid no tax or National Insurance.

'Your offending was truly breathtaking. You should have confined your acting to female impersonations rather than pretending to be ill.

'There are many unfortunate people in this country who are entitled to benefits. They get little enough as it is and people like you deplete the fund.

The court was told Hawthorn claimed he needed care seven days a week, could barely walk a few feet without being out of breath and even needed help washing himself.

The callous cross-dresser even applied for credit cards in his own name, filling out forms saying he had an income of between £19,000 and £25,000.

Earlier, Trevor Meegan, prosecuting, told the court that Hawthorn had committed a 'flagrant and systematic fraud' between March 1, 2009 and August 12 last year.

Trevor Meegan, prosecuting, told the court: 'This was a flagrant and systematic fraud, claimed over a long period of time and of high value.

'While he was claiming he was self employed as a drag artiste. He went by the stage name of Tilly, performing as part of a double act called Glitter Lips, or The Tourettes.

'He received around £200 - £250 cash payment for each performance.'

Kate Thomson, defending, said that Hawthorn used his alter ego as a self esteem booster and that he was 'very remorseful' for his actions.

Clare Djordjevitch, a spokesperson for the DWP, said after the hearing: 'It's cases like these that show us why welfare reform is needed.

'We have a duty to the taxpayer and our customers to make sure that these vital benefits only go to those who need them.'