"A reckless individual who forced motorists into accidents."
Fraudster Asif Javed, aged 26, of Birmingham, was jailed on Friday, September 7, 2018, at Birmingham Crown Court for raking in thousands of pounds by intentionally causing car crashes.
Javed was jailed for 22 months and banned from driving for three years.
It was heard that he caused nearly £23,000 worth of damage to claim insurance money.
Javed and an accomplice made approximately £8,000 in fraudulent insurance claims and tried to claim another £22,732.
The defendant acted in the middle, between an accomplice in a car in front and the innocent drivers behind.
Javed slammed on the brakes after taking a call from his partner, then demanded cash from his victims.
They also damaged the car used more to make crashes appear worse.
It was heard that Javed was responsible for eight crashes between April 2016 and May 2017.
This included three crashes in just two days.
The most serious incident resulted in a driver and three children needing hospital treatment.
The locations included the A449, towards Kidderminster. The A447, towards Ironbridge, and a slip road off the M5 at Junction three.
It was heard that he insured five cars using two policies, both of which were set up using false names and addresses.
The Court heard that one of the victims took Javed’s photo when his address was used in one of the bogus claims.
He was tracked down as a result of a Facebook campaign but fled to Pakistan.
When he returned in November 2017, police arrested him at Birmingham Airport.
Javed was prosecuted following a joint investigation involving London Police’s insurance fraud enforcement department (IFED) and Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB).
Javed had previously admitted one charge of conspiracy to defraud.
Jason Potter, head of investigations at IFB described Javed as reckless.
He said: “A reckless individual who forced motorists into accidents.”
“The victims, in this case, were innocent people going about their day to day lives.”
“Javed did not hesitate to put their lives in danger for financial gain.”
He admitted conspiring to commit fraud by false representation on June 6, 2018.
Judge Patrick Thomas QC said such offences affected the no claims bonuses and legitimate claims made by law-abiding drivers.
The Judge also rejected Javed’s claim that he turned to such a crime after falling into debt and being threatened at gunpoint.
Delroy Henry, defending, said that only “low-level” injury had been caused.
Detective Constable Daryl Fryatt, of IFED, said:
“In his desperation to make money, Javed set out on a year-long spree of deliberate crashes that put innocent members of the public at risk.”
“He had no regard for the safety of those around him and crimes like his have contributed to the rise in premiums for insurance holders.”
“His greed resulted in another successful conviction for IFED.”
“Crash for cash offences are taken very seriously and fraudsters will be stopped.”
Mr Potter added: “This sentencing should serve as a clear message that would-be fraudsters that they will pay the price for their selfish and abhorrent behaviour.”
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