Sixteen “crash for cash” scammers – including one from High Wycombe – have been convicted after being linked to nearly 80 separate incidents.

Misba Illyas, 32, of Booker Place, High Wycombe, is one of 16 fraudsters to be punished for his part in the scam.

The ringleader, Raja Mehmood, 35 of Sherd Close, Luton, would embroil innocent people in the criminal activity by arranging business meetings with unsuspecting victims and then fraudulently using their details to take out insurance policies on vehicles that would later be involved in crashes.

An investigation revealed that Mehmood had been carrying out the reckless crimes for a number of years and would also involve family members and associates as part of the fraud.

The crashes would either be staged by damaging the vehicles off the road or by slamming on the brakes on public roads in front of unsuspecting drivers.

Mehmood and his accomplices would then make exaggerated claims for vehicle damage and personal injury, such as whiplash, to make money.

An investigation was launched by the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB), the Eastern Regional Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) and the City of London Police’s Insurane Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) in November 2015.

It came after ERSOU uncovered a number of suspicious insurance documents when carrying out an unrelated warrant.

The documents seized by ERSOU included insurance policies and claims forms which IFB were able to link to a number of suspected “crash for cash” incidents, painting an overall picture of the scam and identifying Raja Mehmood as being at the centre of it.

Eight key claims were identified in the case against the scammers, but investigators uncovered almost 80 crashes that could be directly linked to the group.

Mehmood initially fled the country but he was arrested by ERSOU in August 2017 at the airport as he returned to the UK.

In January 2018, Mehmood pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and conspiracy to commit dangerous driving.

On January 3, 4 and 7, 2019, following a series of trials at St Albans Crown Court, Mehmood and his guilty accomplices were sentenced.

High Wycombe resident Illyas was among those sentenced – and was given two years in prison suspended for 18 months for conspiracy to commit fraud and six months in prison suspended for 18 months for conspiracy to drive dangerously to be served consecutively as well as 140 hours community service.

Discussing the outcome of the case, Stephen Dalton, IFB’s head of intelligence, said: “Mehmood was the ringleader at the centre of the gang who plagued [the] roads before fleeing the country, instead of owning up to his crimes, leaving his other gang members to take the fall.

“His manipulative nature also meant he didn’t think twice before taking advantage of his business connections in order to expand his scam and maximise his profits.”

ERSOU Detective Sergeant Kelly Gray, added: “This was an incredibly lengthy investigation into this organised crime group who were operating a complex and high-end fraud, and its thanks to the hard work and commitment of our officers, alongside our partner agencies that we’ve reached this successful conclusion.

“Not only were these individuals scamming insurance companies out of thousands of pounds, more importantly they were putting the lives of innocent motorists at risk on a regular basis by causing these collisions.

“We’re really pleased that these offenders have now been brought to justice, and we hope that the sentences handed out send a stark lesson to others.”

The full list of scammers and their sentences:

  • Raja Mehmood, 35 of Sherd Close, Luton, sentenced to five years, four months in prison for conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and a consecutive eight months’ in prison for conspiracy to commit dangerous driving
  • Stephen Seaton, 47, of Pastures Way, Luton, sentenced to four years in prison for conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and a consecutive nine months in prison for conspiracy to commit dangerous driving
  • Mita Mistry, 37, of Newnham Way, Harrow, sentenced to two years, nine months in prison for conspiracy to commit fraud and three months in prison for conspiracy to drive dangerously, to be served consecutively
  • Naveed Khan, 22, of Roman Road, Luton, sentenced to 32 months in prison for conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and a consecutive six months in prison for conspiracy to commit dangerous driving
  • Nadeem Khan, 24, of Roman Road, Luton, sentenced to four years in prison for conspiracy to commit fraud and six months in prison for conspiracy to drive dangerously, to be served consecutively
  • Renu Begum, 37, handed 180 hours community service for conspiracy to commit fraud
  • Ajvinder Panesar, 37, of Albany Road, Tilbury, sentenced to 14 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, 60 hours’ community service and a six-month curfew for conspiracy to commit fraud
  • Salina Nagra, 28, of King Edward Drive, Grays, handed 150 hours community service for one count of fraud
  • Maninder Grewal, 28, of Park View Gardens, Essex handed 150 hours community service for one count of fraud
  • Suckbiar Bachra, 43, of Charlotte Avenue, Hitchin, sentenced to eight months custodial suspended for 18 months, 180 hours community service and a four-month curfew for conspiracy to commit fraud
  • Ravinder Singh, 34, of Russell Street, Luton, sentenced to 21 months in prison suspended for 18 months for conspiracy to commit fraud as well as 200 hours community service
  • Selhma Hussain, of Evelyn Avenue, London, sentenced to three years in prison for conspiracy to commit fraud and a consecutive 6 months’ in prison for conspiracy to drive dangerously
  • Matthew Warr, 44, of Hillside Avenue, Borehamwood, sentenced to three years and six months’ in prison for conspiracy to commit fraud and a consecutive six months in prison for conspiracy to drive dangerously
  • Ataf Hussain, 44, of Roman Road, Luton, sentenced to three years and six months in prison for conspiracy to commit fraud and six months in prison for conspiracy to drive dangerously, to be served consecutively
  • Misba Illyas, 32, of Booker Place, High Wycombe, sentenced to two years in prison suspended for 18 months for conspiracy to commit fraud and six months in prison suspended for 18 months for conspiracy to drive dangerously to be served consecutively as well as 140 hours community service
  • Rabia Miah, 37, of Fosse Close, Wellingborough, sentenced to two years in prison suspended for 18 months for conspiracy to commit fraud and six months in prison suspended for 18 months for conspiracy to drive dangerously to be served consecutively as well as 200 hours community service