Man slams knee on pavement in fake injury claim
AMAN was caught on CCTV deliberately injuring himself in order to make a fake insurance claim, a court has heard.
Malcolm Harrison said a paving stone outside the flats where he lived had cracked under foot, causing him to fall and injure his knee.
The 41-year-old lodged a fake claim for more than £6,600 in compensation.
However, CCTV from the flats revealed the truth – Harrison was seen to deliberately make an existing crack in the slab bigger, then repeatedly bang his knee on a nearby paving stone.
When the defendant spotted the security camera pointed in his direction he began hopping on one leg.
Harrison subsequently submitted a claim for compensation for his “injuries”.
But the matter was referred to the City of London Police’s specialist insurance fraud unit by the National
Insurance and Guarantee Corporation, a subsidiary of Direct Line insurance.
And an investigation revealed the defendant’s claim to be bogus.
Harrison,of Cwrt Tarrell, Brecon, had previously pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by false representation when he appeared at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court for sentencing.
He was given a two-year community order, and told to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay £1,000 in prosecution costs.
Speaking after the sentencing City of London Police detective constable Joanne Farrell said: “Even after being shown the CCTV footage several times in interview, which clearly showed his claim was fraudulent, Harrison initially denied any wrongdoing, dishonestly telling police they were misinterpreting the footage.
“He then entered a not guilty plea at court, meaning the matter would have proceeded to trial at Crown Court.”
Eventually he saw sense and pleaded guilty before his trial began, and has been rightfully punished for trying to steal several thousand pounds from the insurer.”
Rob Smart, head of claims at the National Insurance and Guarantee Corporation said he hoped the sentence would send out a message to others thinking of trying a similar scam.
He said: “It’s very sad to see the lengths that some people will go to make a false claim but we will continue to work closely with the police to ensure these types of claims are exposed. Insurance fraud increases the premiums for honest customers and costs the industry millions of pounds a year.”