Family’s £52k ‘fake hols food bug scam’

Trio face trial in landmark case

A FAMILY allegedly tried to defraud Thomas Cook of £52,000 by lying about getting food poisoning on holiday.

In a landmark case, Deborah Briton, 53, and partner Paul Roberts, 43, are accused of inventing sickness claims for themselves and their two children for two all-inclusive trips to Majorca in 2015 and 2016.

Briton’s daughter Charlene Briton, 30, is also alleged to have submitted a further false food poisoning claim for herself and her young daughter for the holiday last year.

The trio appeared at Liverpool magistrates court last week and each pleaded not guilty to two counts of fraud.

If convicted, they could face between 18 months and six years in prison. It is believed to be the first criminal case in the UK relating to an alleged fake compensation claim for holiday sickness.

Sam Brown, prosecuting on behalf of travel giant Thomas Cook, told the court the alleged fraud amounted to a total of £52,000.

All compensation claims were submitted through the family’s solicitors, who have not been implicated in any fraud.

The prosecution submitted that the case was too serious to be dealt with in the lower courts.

District Judge Andrew Shaw said the charges represented a “sophisticated fraud with a relatively high value of money claimed”.

He sent the case to Liverpool crown court for a pre-trial hearing on August 10.

All three defendants, from the Wallasey area of the city, were granted unconditional bail.

ACCUSED Paul Roberts and Deborah Briton DAUGHTER Charlene was also charged HEARING Family outside Liverpool court TRIPS Hols jet run by Thomas Cook