A woman who sought millions in NHS compensation has been jailed after video evidence showed her parading in fantasy body paint at a festival despite claiming she could barely walk.
Kae Burnell-Chambers, 44, from Lincolnshire, has been sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to pay £135,000 in legal costs after being caught exaggerating her disability to claim more than £3 million in damages.
She had blamed NHS negligence for her condition, cauda equina syndrome, a rare but serious spinal condition, alleging it left her dependent on a walking stick, unable to get out of a car unaided, or dress herself. But footage played in London’s High Court told a very different story.
In a striking video from the Kustom Kulture Blast Off festival in 2019, Burnell-Chambers can be seen confidently modelling in elaborate body paint, strutting across a stage, posing, and dancing — with no walking aid in sight.
This footage surfaced months before she formally launched her legal claim, casting serious doubt on her version of events.
In a damning assessment, Mrs Justice Tipples said the video was “devastating” evidence of the deception.
“The truth was that you made a good recovery from that condition over time and you deliberately chose to lie about symptoms in order to make a very substantial dishonest claim for compensation,” the judge stated.
From Disability Claim to Festival Catwalk
Despite her genuine diagnosis in 2016, Burnell-Chambers’ case unravelled when social media clips revealed she had returned to working as a body paint artist and model well before filing the claim.
She initially told medico-legal experts that she suffered from a range of severe limitations — relying on a stick, struggling to move, and needing help with daily tasks. But her own social media betrayed her. Videos clearly showed her participating in multiple conventions and festivals, where she moved freely and performed energetically.
“By no later than 2017, she had recovered well enough to make a return to body painting,” barrister Sadie Crapper, representing the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, told the court.
Burnell-Chambers later admitted that she had “deliberately changed [her] presentation” when attending expert appointments.
Her lawyer, Ben Bradley KC, acknowledged her “fundamental dishonesty,” although he insisted she still has ongoing, fluctuating symptoms. But the judge was not swayed.
“You deliberately exaggerated and lied about your disability in order to present a picture that you had a serious and ongoing disability… and to grossly inflate your claim for damages on a very substantial scale,” said Mrs Justice Tipples.
Refusing to suspend the sentence, she added, “The very serious nature of your contempt… can only be met by immediate imprisonment.”
What Is Cauda Equina Syndrome?
Cauda equina syndrome is a rare and serious condition caused by compression of the nerves at the base of the spinal cord.
It can result in severe back pain, numbness, weakness, and bladder or bowel dysfunction. While early treatment can reduce long-term effects, delays in diagnosis can lead to permanent damage.
Burnell-Chambers’ original condition was genuine, but she knowingly exaggerated her symptoms for financial gain, the court found.
A Costly Lie
- Sentence: 6 months in prison
- Legal Costs: £135,000
- Original Claim: Over £3 million
- Outcome: Dropped claim after being exposed via social media and surveillance footage
Burnell-Chambers, reportedly on benefits and with “limited means,” must now foot a significant legal bill despite no longer pursuing the damages claim.
This case highlights how surveillance and social media are increasingly playing a role in exposing fraudulent personal injury and clinical negligence claims, a growing concern for public services already under financial pressure.
A Warning to Others
The NHS Trust hopes the ruling serves as a clear deterrent to anyone considering exaggerating claims for compensation.
“Fraudulent clinical negligence claims not only damage public trust but divert critical resources away from genuine cases,” a source close to the Trust said.
With healthcare services stretched thin, the courts are showing zero tolerance for those who attempt to exploit the system, and this case is now a textbook example.
