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Fraudster who scammed father's car insurance jailed

A fraudster, who pocketed £1,700 by conning an insurance company, was starting a six month jail sentence today.

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Wolverhampton Crown Court

Kamran Hussain - who had been refused cover for his BMW - tried to bamboozle the firm and DVLA into believing the car was owned and covered by the comprehensive policy of his father, a judge heard.

He informed friends of the plan during WhatsApp chats three days before the vehicle was involved in a crash in Rolfe Street, Smethwick, with him behind the wheel on February 5 last year, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The 26-year-old trickster told the DVLA that his father had become the registered keeper of the BMW shortly before the smash, explained Mr Philip Brunt, prosecuting. Hussain also contacted his father's insurers while pretending to be him, continued the prosecutor.

The scam worked and the £3,000 BMW was written off. An excess of £500 was taken from the total along with an £800 residual payment which allowed him to keep the car.

The £1,700 balance was paid into the bank account of his father who was out of the country between January 14 and March 23 and knew nothing of the fraud, the court heard.

Meanwhile police launched an investigation into an allegation that the person behind the wheel of the BMW was driving without due care and attention when the crash occurred.

A form requesting the registered keeper of the BMW was filled in by the defendant who named his father and signed the document. He also filled in the next form purporting to be his father

Scientific checks found the fingerprints of the defendant on both and his DNA on the seal of the envelopes, said Mr Brunt who concluded: "It was a reasonably sophisticated fraud." The issue of who, if anybody, was legally responsible for the crash will be decided by another court.

Mr Lewis Perry, defending, said: "He deeply regrets getting involved in this but he panicked. His family are ashamed of him."

Hussain from Doulton Drive, Smethwick, pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the cause of justice, fraud and driving without insurance.

He was jailed by Recorder Peter Levins who said: "People must understand that if they attempt to pervert the course of justice they will end up in custody." The defendant still faces Proceeds of Crime proceedings to recover the money which will be held later this year.

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