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| 'Crash for cash' scam man jailed | 'Crash for cash' scam man jailed |
| (31 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. | 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. | He charged £500 a time to stage accidents, which enabled car owners to claim for bogus damages from insurers. |
| Luxurious holidays | |
| 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. | 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. | As a result of the conspiracy he earned about £46,000. But the cost to the insurance industry was huge, the court heard. |
| Claimants demanded compensation for personal injury, courtesy cars and legal fees at the expense of the other party's insurers. | Claimants demanded compensation for personal injury, courtesy cars and legal fees at the expense of the other party's insurers. |
| William Baker, prosecuting, said the earnings funded luxurious foreign holidays and expensive cars for Patel and his unemployed girlfriend Ettorina Hay. | William Baker, prosecuting, said the earnings funded luxurious foreign holidays and expensive cars for Patel and his unemployed girlfriend Ettorina Hay. |
| Patel favoured one roundabout in Cheadle Hulme to stage his crashes Technique 'maps' crash suspect | |
| The court heard the scam was exposed by suspicious office workers who overlooked the Eden Point roundabout - favoured by Patel for his crashes - on the A34 at Cheadle Hulme, Stockport. | The court heard the scam was exposed by suspicious office workers who overlooked the Eden Point roundabout - favoured by Patel for his crashes - on the A34 at Cheadle Hulme, Stockport. |
| Mr Baker said staff had noticed "one vehicle colliding with another at low speed with minor damage, and often the same person driving the lead vehicle". | Mr Baker said staff had noticed "one vehicle colliding with another at low speed with minor damage, and often the same person driving the lead vehicle". |
| "They told drivers of the rear vehicles they thought they were the victim of fraud," he added. | "They told drivers of the rear vehicles they thought they were the victim of fraud," he added. |
| Patel pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud, six counts of dangerous driving and four counts of driving while disqualified between May 2005 and August 2008. | |
| He was arrested days after he was observed staging two crashes in one day, Mr Baker told the court. | |
| After his arrest he gave a prepared statement to police and pleaded guilty to the charges at the earliest opportunity. | |
| This abuse of the insurance claims system has implications for all law-abiding road users Sgt Mark Beales, Greater Manchester Police | |
| Patel paid £46,000 into his girlfriend's bank account and when police searched her home in Kirkby Road, Bolton, they found it full of expensive furniture and electrical equipment. | |
| A £10,000 second-hand Mercedes coupe and a £14,000 Lincoln Navigator were also in her name. | |
| The pair enjoyed trips to Turkey, Barcelona and France, the court heard. | |
| Mr Baker said Hay "enjoyed a much higher standard of living than she would have experienced living on benefits of £90 per week". | |
| Hay, 29, admitted one count of converting criminal property and one count of possessing criminal property and will be sentenced on 18 December. | |
| Sergeant Mark Beales shows how Mohammed Patel was caught | Sergeant Mark Beales shows how Mohammed Patel was caught |
| Investigations were initially carried out by AXA insurance, one of the companies affected by the scam, which passed on its findings to Greater Manchester Police. | Investigations were initially carried out by AXA insurance, one of the companies affected by the scam, which passed on its findings to Greater Manchester Police. |
| Sgt Mark Beales, who led the inquiry for GMP's Specialist Operations Branch, said: "Patel was prepared to put lives in danger to make money. | Sgt Mark Beales, who led the inquiry for GMP's Specialist Operations Branch, said: "Patel was prepared to put lives in danger to make money. |
| "I have no doubt that people driving on the roads of Greater Manchester are safer with this individual behind bars. | "I have no doubt that people driving on the roads of Greater Manchester are safer with this individual behind bars. |
| "This abuse of the insurance claims system has implications for all law-abiding road users." | "This abuse of the insurance claims system has implications for all law-abiding road users." |
| A number of other defendants, who have been convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud, are also awaiting sentence. | 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. | Patel was also banned from driving for three-and-a-half years. |