A TOP water polo coach and swimming teacher has appeared in court accused of wrongly claiming disability benefits.

Joanne Kirk, who travelled across Europe as team manager of the England girls under-17s water polo team, told benefits assessors from the Department for Work and Pensions that she could not walk without a stick.

Kirk, who suffers from a rare condition which causes muscle weakness, claimed she could only walk for about 50 metres before being in severe discomfort and that she would sometimes fall over.

She also said on her disability living allowance applications in 1996 and 2007 that she found it difficult to open heavy doors and that she had problems putting clothes on unaided, Bolton Crown Court heard.

Investigators began looking into Kirk's claims after an anonymous tip-off.

Prosecuting, Jonathan Rogers said that between 2001 and 2006, Kirk was employed by Wirral Council five days a week as a swimming instructor, teaching children how to swim and walking alongside the pool.

Then in 2010, she became the team manager of the England girls under 17s water polo team, which involved regular weekend training camps in Cardiff, as well as trips to locations around Europe including Barcelona, Istanbul and Holland.

He said that it was accepted that she suffers from Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, resulting in muscle weakness.

Mr Rogers told the jury that while both employers were aware of her condition, they did not see her using a walking stick or see any visible effects of the illness.

He said: “She was seen on several occasions walking for long distances unaided, without the help of walking stick.

“Her role as a swimming instructor involved the demonstration and instruction of swimming using her arms and legs, and she was required to use floats and recovery poles for children learning to swim.

“She would also walk along the length width of the swimming pool.”

The Department for Work and Pensions put together surveillance footage following an anonymous tip-off.

The jury was told that Kirk was interviewed by police in November 2013, during which she said that she did “very little” as part of her job as a swimming instructor.

She told officers that CCTV featuring her walking unaided showed her on a series of “good days”.

Kirk had been working in the kitchen of Bolton Old Links Golf Club, in Chorley Old Road, at the time of the interview.

She made an application for disability living allowance in 1996 and again in 2007, both of which were accepted.

She was given the higher rate of benefits for her mobility needs.

The higher rate, which is not means tested, pays £82.30 a week and is reserved for people who are unable or virtually unable to walk.

Kirk, aged 49, of Bolton Old Links Golf Club, in Chorley Old Road, denies dishonestly notifying the Department for Work and Pensions about a change in her circumstances.

The trial continues.