Aviva secures jail time for fraudsters who targeted elderly driver

Four fraudsters who targeted a motorist and staged an accident have been jailed after being caught by Aviva and Keoghs.

The hoaxers received a total of 56 weeks behind bars for the scam, which took place in a small car park.

An elderly driver was manoeuvring out of the car park when the accused deliberately caused a collision between the two vehicles.

Aviva and Keoghs began an investigation into the incident, which resulted in a trial at Manchester County Court.

“At trial, the driver and his three passengers, plus a witness who colluded with them, were found to have conspired to stage the accident, providing false statements and false evidence in court,” the two firms said in a statement.

Contempt charge

As a result, a decision was made by Aviva and Keoghs to apply for contempt against the fraudsters.

One of the accused admitted all allegations prior to the hearing, while three of the four remaining defendants were also found to be in contempt on 8 August 2024.

The custodial sentences were passed down at Bolton Crown Court during a separate hearing in November 2024.

Pete Ward, head of claims counter fraud at Aviva, said: “Crash for cash schemes are still luring fraudsters, even at the expense of vulnerable motorists’ safety.

“This case shows just how ruthless these criminals can be, targeting elderly drivers in the hope of a quick payout. That’s why we pursued contempt charges – their actions were not just callous, but downright cruel. The custodial sentences handed down should serve as a stark warning to anyone thinking of doing the same.”

Danny Newton, partner at Keoghs, added: “This verdict is a victory for Aviva, but also for every innocent elderly driver that is targeted by these dangerous schemes.

“By exposing these scams and punishing those responsible, we can reduce costs incurred by these deceitful claims which are paid for by everyone and, more importantly, keep those who are targeted by these dangerous scams safer on our roads.”