THE jury in the case of a former police officer accused of a large-scale benefits fraud have seen footage taken during undercover surveillance.

Investigators followed Vaughan Dodds - who guarded Tony Blair during his service - and his wife Mandy to see if their disability claims were genuine.

On 40 days, the officials secretly watched and recorded the couple, from Langley Moor, Durham, the Teesside Crown Court jury was told.

Prosecutor Graham O'Sullivan also produced entries made on benefits claims forms by 45-year-old Mr Dodds on behalf of his wife and for himself.

It is claimed he exaggerated or lied about the extent of their illnesses and disabilities, and illegally raked in £55,000 in hand-outs.

Mr Dodds - a former firearms officer who protected Mr Blair's home in Trimdon, County Durham - denies 12 charges of making dishonest representations.

On the official forms, he said his wife was hyper-sensitive to the slightest noise, and he was sometimes unable to leave home because of his ME.

The jury of seven women and five men heard that the couple went on a motorcycling course, had gym membership and enjoyed a number of foreign holidays.

While they pocketed Disability Living Allowance, Income Support and Council Tax benefit, they had £180,000 in the bank, Mr O'Sullivan told the jury.

They also sent their children to public schools, spent almost £35,000 at hair and beauty salons, and more than £25,000 at hotels and restaurants.

Along with their son and daughter, they enjoyed two cruises and went on holidays to Florida and Egypt - and kept journals and scrapbooks of their trips.

Mr Dodds said on the benefits claims forms that he was unable to leave the house when his condition was at its worst, and could walk no more than ten metres.

He said "on a good day", he had no energy, became agitated at "stupid things", forgot where he was going, needed support to walk and could not stand bright lights.

"Every joint in my body is in cramp and exercise can aggravate my condition," he wrote. "My head constantly throbs and my eyes feel as if they're popping out."

On his wife's form, he said her condition meant she could not bear even the sound of loo roll being torn off, or the noise made when restless in bed.

"Every activity that causes noise is painful and hostile to Mandy," he declared. "It causes pain when she rolls over in bed and the crinkling of the pillow and sheets cannot only awaken her but also cause her pain."

The covert video footage seemed to show Mrs Dodds blow drying someone's hair at a beauty salon, and her husband dropping off their children for school.

The trial - which is expected to end on Friday - will resume tomorrow (Thursday), when Mr Dodds, of Gardners Place, Langley Moor, and his daughter giving evidence.

The case continues.