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'Crash for cash' scam man jailed | 'Crash for cash' scam man jailed |
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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. |
Mohammed Patel deliberately caused at least 93 car crashes in three years, each costing insurers about £17,000. | 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 at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court. | Patel, of Nottingham Drive, Bolton, admitted a number of charges at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court. |
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 | Luxurious holidays |
Patel forced a number of low speed crashes by braking suddenly, often at roundabouts, so the driver behind would crash into the back of him. | Patel forced a number of low speed crashes by braking suddenly, often at roundabouts, so the driver behind would crash into the back of him. |
Claimants - who owned the cars Patel was driving - demanded compensation for personal injury, courtesy cars and legal fees at the expense of the other party's insurers. | Claimants - who owned the cars Patel was driving - demanded compensation for personal injury, courtesy cars and legal fees at the expense of the other party's insurers. |
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. |
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 class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/england/8318742.stm">Victims unaware of scam | |
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. | 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. | He was arrested days after he was observed staging two crashes in one day, Mr Baker told the court. |
This abuse of the insurance claims system has implications for all law-abiding road users Sgt Mark Beales, Greater Manchester Police | This abuse of the insurance claims system has implications for all law-abiding road users Sgt Mark Beales, Greater Manchester Police |
After his arrest he gave a prepared statement to police and pleaded guilty to the charges at the earliest opportunity. | After his arrest he gave a prepared statement to police and pleaded guilty to the charges at the earliest opportunity. |
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. | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | Hay, 29, admitted one count of converting criminal property and one count of possessing criminal property and will be sentenced on 18 December. |
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Sergeant Mark Beales shows how Mohammed Patel was caught | Sergeant Mark Beales shows how Mohammed Patel was caught |
Judge Bernard Lever told Patel that his "was not a victimless crime" and he had given no thought to the potentially serious psychological and physical impact on his victims. | Judge Bernard Lever told Patel that his "was not a victimless crime" and he had given no thought to the potentially serious psychological and physical impact on his victims. |
The judge said that only a "significant" custodial sentence would send out the message about his "disgraceful and dangerous" behaviour. | The judge said that only a "significant" custodial sentence would send out the message about his "disgraceful and dangerous" behaviour. |
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." |
'Lives at risk' | 'Lives at risk' |
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. |
Speaking after the hearing, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) said that staged motor accidents were a "serious crime". | Speaking after the hearing, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) said that staged motor accidents were a "serious crime". |
"These frauds put innocent lives at risk and push up the cost of motor insurance for honest customers," said Nick Starling, the ABI's director of general insurance. | "These frauds put innocent lives at risk and push up the cost of motor insurance for honest customers," said Nick Starling, the ABI's director of general insurance. |
The UK Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) is currently investigating 28 similar suspected operations around the country. | The UK Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) is currently investigating 28 similar suspected operations around the country. |