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Fraud crash-for-cash man ordered to pay back just £1
Mohammed Patel, of Bolton, purposely staged at least 93 car crashes across Greater Manchester which enabled car owners to make fraudulent insurance and compensation claims. He forced a number of low speed crashes by braking suddenly, frequently at roundabouts, so the driver travelling behind would crash into the back of him. The claimants - who owned the cars Mr Patel was driving - then sought compensation for personal injury, legal fees and other expenses.
After his arrest, police searched the home he shared with his girlfriend Ettorina Hay and discovered expensive goods such as a large plasma TV, leather sofas and designer clothes. It was also shown that his earnings also paid for holidays and her general living costs.
Even though he profited £46,000 from the scam, Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court was told Mr Patel had no assets. The court hearing, held under the Proceeds of Crime Act last week, decided that Ms Hay's benefits from the scam totalled £35,000, but she had £12,953 in assets.
Mr Patel was ordered to repay the nominal sum whilst Ms Hay was ordered to repay much higher damages of £12,953 within three months.
Two luxury cars registered in her name were sold by Greater Manchester Police - a Lincoln Navigator and Mercedes C 180, for £11,416. They also recovered £536 from her house in Bolton.
Sgt Mark Beales, who led the investigation, said, "Hay had her suspicions over Patel always having large sums of cash at his disposal, yet she took it regardless. She turned a blind eye to where it came from. She no doubt benefited significantly from Patel's criminality and now the justice system is taking money back for victims of crime".
Last year Mr Patel admitted a number of charges at the court and is serving a four-and-a-half year sentence. In December Ms Hay was given a 12-month suspended sentence after admitting converting and possessing criminal property.
Filed by Jessica Man © 2010 - Legal Advice Helpline
Published 05/03/2010
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