Conman finds out technology is key in bid to cheat insurance company out of £20,000
A shopkeeper tried to con £20,000 out of an insurance company by pretending his car had been stolen, a judge was told.
But cheating Manish Karia was caught out by new technology, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
The 51-year-old - who runs a Bargain Booze outlet with his wife in Stubby Lane, Wednesfield - rang insurers to report that his Audi had been stolen on May 1 last year.
Mr Alex Warren, prosecuting, said: "The vehicle was insured for a little over £20,000. The insurance company carried out some investigations and asked the defendant to return the keys to the vehicle." Karia sent them three keys but it was soon discovered that one of these was not from the Audi.
Mr Warren continued: "He apologised and conceded that he still had another spare key for the vehicle which he then sent to the insurance company."
What the trickster did not realise was that new technology allows an ignition key to be checked to discover when it was last used to start the vehicle.
Analysis of the last key sent to the insurer by Karia revealed that it had started the vehicle two weeks after it was reported stolen by the defendant, disclosed Mr Warren. But Karia continued to lie when quizzed by police.
Mr David Swinnerton, defending, conceded: "He accepts that he told a lot of lies but there were others involved in this and he has lost out. He no longer has the car and has had to pay for it."
Karia from Charles Close, Cheslyn Hay - a former sub postmaster with a previous conviction for an unrelated matter - admitted fraud and was given an eight month suspended prison sentence, fined £500 and ordered to pay £1500 costs. He was also given 14 days jail in default on the fine.
Judge James Burbidge QC said: "It is sad to see somebody like you before the court. You have successfully run businesses. You have been a sub postmaster and now have a Bargain Booze business.
"Perhaps the real reason for you becoming involved in this crime is too difficult to perceive. There seems to be a murky background as to why you chose to lie to the insurance company to acquire money. This kind of behaviour puts up the premiums of every law abiding person.
"As a result of modern technology an ignition key can be examined to discover when it was last used. You did not know that but when you were arrested you told more lies to the police which is also sad to hear.
"This was a serious offence but not a violent or a sexual crime and so I do not believe that it is necessary, with your responsibilities to your blind mother and 18 year old dependant daughter, to send you immediately into custody. You were of generally good character and so I can suspend the sentence."
