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'Crash for cash' scam man jailed | 'Crash for cash' scam man jailed |
(21 minutes later) | |
A 24-year-old man has been jailed for four-and-a-half years after admitting his part in a £1.6m "crash for cash" conspiracy in Greater Manchester. | A 24-year-old man has been jailed for four-and-a-half years after admitting his part in a £1.6m "crash for cash" conspiracy in Greater Manchester. |
Manchester Crown Court was told that Mohammed Patel deliberately caused at least 93 car crashes in three years, each costing insurers about £17,000. | Manchester Crown Court was told that Mohammed Patel deliberately caused at least 93 car crashes in three years, each costing insurers about £17,000. |
Patel, of Nottingham Drive, Bolton, admitted a number of charges. | |
He charged £500 a time to stage accidents, which enabled car owners to claim for bogus damages from insurers. | |
Earned £46,000 | |
Patel, who was at the heart of the conspiracy, forced a number of low speed crashes by braking suddenly, mainly at roundabouts, Minshull Street Crown Court was told. | |
As a result of the conspiracy he earned about £46,000. But the cost to the insurance industry was huge, the court heard. | |
Patel pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud, six counts of dangerous driving and four counts of driving while disqualified. | |
A number of other defendants, who have been convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud, are also awaiting sentence. | |
Patel was also banned from driving for three-and-a-half years. |