Couple are jailed for fake hols bug claims
Pair in £20,000 scam bid
A COUPLE have been jailed for making fake holiday sickness claims in a landmark case.
A court heard Deborah Briton, 53, and partner Paul Roberts, 43, tried to claim compensation by stating they and their two children had fallen ill on holidays to Majorca in 2015 and 2016.
But the couple’s social media showed posts where they boasted of holidays full of “sun, laughter and fun”.
Briton sobbed as she was sentenced to nine months in jail after admitting four counts of fraud in the private prosecution, brought by holiday firm Thomas Cook.
Roberts, who got 15 months after admitting the same offences, cried and shook throughout the hearing at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday.
Their family, including Briton’s daughter Charlene, who had initially been charged with two counts of fraud which were later dropped, shouted out as the couple were sent down.
The court heard the couple, from Wallasey, Wirral, tried to claim nearly £20,000 for the fake gastric illnesses and would have also cost the holiday firm a further £28,000 in legal expenses had their claims been successful.
Sentencing the pair, Judge David Aubrey QC said their claims had been a “complete and utter sham”.
He added: “You were both asserting on your behalfs and on behalf of your two children that on two holidays you had suffered illness. They were totally and utterly fake.”
He said the claims, made in August last year, must have required planning and premeditation, adding: “Why? Pure greed. Seeking to get something for nothing.”
Judge Aubrey said there had been an “explosion” in gastric illness claims, adding those making a fake holiday sickness claim must expect to get “a custodial sentence.”
Thomas Cook said: “We had to take a stand to protect our holidays and our customers from the minority who cheat the system.”