Crash for cash man jailed
A 24-year-old man has been jailed for four-and-a-half years after admitting his part in a £1.6 million Crash for Cash scam in Greater Manchester.
Mohammed Patel pleaded guilty to 17 charges, including conspiracy to defraud, dangerous driving and disqualified driving.
Manchester Crown Court was told that Patel deliberately caused at least 92 car crashes, a number of which involved commercial vehicles, between 2005 and 2008.
On each occasion he would lead the other driver to believe they were at fault.
Twenty-four other people are also due to be sentenced for their role in the scam.
Office workers overlooking the Eden Point roundabout on the A34 in Cheadle raised the alarm when they became suspicious at the regularity with which collisions were taking place at the same spot on the roundabout.
AXA insurance, one of the companies affected by the scam, investigated a number of the claims and in January 2008 the findings were presented to Greater Manchester Police.
The resulting police investigation revealed Patel deliberately caused collisions for whichever client was willing to give up his car keys and insurance details.
He would be paid a fee while the claimants demanded compensation for personal injury, courtesy cars and legal fees at the expense of the other party’s insurers.
In some instances, the damage to the cars being used was fabricated, and on occasions exaggerated.
Article from Fleet News Legal – Wednesday 21st October 2009
