A CHURCH pastor who ‘danced the hokey-cokey’ at a Christmas party despite claiming thousands of pounds in benefits due to her mobility has been branded ‘a thoroughly dishonest woman’.

Stephanie Meakin, 51, claimed almost £37,000 in state benefits over 11-and-a-half years after claiming she had severe mobility problems.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday that Meakin waded unaided into the sea to baptise new members of her congregation of the Church of Abundant Life International based in Crewe.

The court also heard that Meakin, of Springwell Close, Crewe, danced unaided at the church Christmas party.

The jury were told Meakin, a widow, had a collection of high heeled shoes and was seen walking up a steep hill, jogging to a cash machine and exercising her Rottweiler – all unaided.

The court heard how she took part in a ‘luxury’ safari trip during a trip to South Africa on a church mission and twice flew to see relatives in her homeland of the Philippines.

Meakin had pleaded not guilty to dishonestly failing to notify a change in circumstances but a jury unanimously convicted her after just 90 minutes deliberations.

The judge, Recorder Mary Loram said: “The evidence was overwhelming but you persisted in the lie to the jury that throughout you were in crippling pain.

“There is no evidence of remorse or of you taking responsibility for your actions.”

The jury heard that she began claiming Disability Living Allowance, at the highest rate, in 1995 due to severe back trouble but by 2001 there had been a significant improvement in her condition.

She obtained a total of £36,889 between October 2001 and February 2013.

Ms Loram said her dishonesty had subsidised her comfortable life style.

She said: “You have held yourself out as being someone who could preach to other people and when those other people find out about your dishonesty they may find it difficult to accept you as being in any position of moral authority whatsoever.”

Ms Loram sentenced Meakin to 15 months imprisonment suspended for 12 months and placed her under supervision for 12 months.