Insurance cheat News must pay back whiplash cash
A WOMAN who claimed £3,700 from her insurance stating she had a false injury after a car crash has been ordered to pay it all back.
Natalie Hasford, 32, made a false claim to Aviva stating she was a passenger in a collision in May 2014.
After going for a medical exam she gave fake information about her injuries and was referred for physio treatment costing more than £1,000, Manchester magistrates court heard.
Hasford, from Altrincham, then received a cheque for £3,700.43 in settlement for her personal injury claim.
She has since pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and has now been handed a community order and ordered to pay back all the funds in compensation.
Prosecuting, Gavin Hughes said: “The offence relates to a false claim she made, stating that she was a passenger in a Range Rover that was involved in a collision on May 8, 2014, in the Manchester area.
“She attended for a medical examination and gave false information about the injuries she received.
“Her medical report was sent to Aviva about her injuries and she was referred for physio which cost over £1,000.
“The defendant was sent a cheque for £3,700.43 in settlement of the personal injury claim.”
Adelphi Legal Solutions, who helped deal with the case, deducted fees of £900, and the remainder of the money was sent to Hasford.
She later admitted the offences in an interview when she was shown the cheque receipt.
The total loss to Aviva as a result of her claim was in the region of £5,730.40, due to individuals working on the case, Mr Hughes added.
“It’s difficult to disprove whiplash and other muscular injuries, and claims increased by 90 per cent despite a fall in 41pc of RTCs during 2019/2020,” he said.
“Insurance companies have long recognised a change is needed in the law and in recent years claims for whiplash must be well founded in the majority of claims going forward.”
In the years 2019/2020, 60,500 fraudulent whiplash claims were made.
Hasford was said to have no previous convictions.
Mitigating on behalf of Hasford, Andrew Marsh said: “She is a single parent of a six-year-old child.
“She works at Selfridges in the Trafford Centre.
“She would wish to pay off the compensation quickly.
Sentencing her, District Judge Joanne Hirst said: “You went to extreme lengths – you had a physical examination – to secure yourself £3,700 which you were not entitled to.
“I know the knock-on effect of people who do this, as people who suffer with genuine whiplash who don’t get any more support.
“Victims who are entitled to this have to adapt to people who defraud.”
Hasford, of Riddings Road, was handed a 12-month community order and 120 hours of unpaid work.