WATCH: Bus crash fraudster caught out by CCTV
An 'opportunistic' fraudster who claimed to have been injured in a crash involving a bus was thwarted by CCTV footage which showed she was stood safely on the pavement.
Helen Elcock saw her parked Ford Focus being struck by an Arriva bus outside Spar in Hednesford Road, Heath Hayes, Cannock.
The 48-year-old immediately got into the driver’s seat in a bid to deceive the bus driver and authorities she had been sat in the car when it was hit.
Elcock then tried to sue the firm for up to £3,000 claiming she had suffered neck and shoulder injuries from whiplash in the smash.
WATCH CCTV from the scene:
The single mother-of-two even deceived a doctor, convincing him she had genuine neck pain which would take four months to heal.
But CCTV footage obtained by Arriva revealed she had been entirely uninjured and stood safely outside of her car when the bus struck.
Her personal injury claim was subsequently struck out and Elcock admitted her deceit.
Arriva then begun contempt of court proceedings against her and at Birmingham County Court last week a judge found three separate contempts were proven.
These related to documents submitted by Elcock to the courts as part of her personal injury claim.
Judge Charles Purle QC sentenced her to a six-month jail term, suspended for 12 months.
The court heard Elcock, of Newlands Court, Heath Hayes, Cannock, has already paid £6,750 for costs relating to in the initial personal injury claim.
Judge Purle QC awarded further costs of £9,412 following the latest proceedings.
Sentencing Elcock, he said: "This woman is guilty of a repeated and continued fraud. This was a deception she maintained over many months. She misled solicitors, medical experts and the courts.
"She was the sole perpetrator of the fraud and was no under pressure from anyone else and was not a mere footsoldier.
"The fraud was maintained until the position became untenable."
The court heard the crash between the Number 3 bus, travelling from Cannock to Walsall, and Elcock's car took place on March 14 last year.
She lied about her injuries via the low value personal injury claims portal, when stating the 'particulars of her claim' for her solicitors and in her formal claim form.
It was not until September that Arriva discovered the fraud and the personal injury case was struck out in February.
Mr Corin Furness, acting for Arriva, said: "In the CCTV she is seen to get in her car immediately after the crash takes place.
"She is sitting with the door open when the bus driver gets out, so the bus driver understands she had been in her car.
"It was only on seeing the CCTV the facts became clear to those who instruct me."
He added: "This was opportunistic rather than planned. She accepts she acted in a deplorable fashion and is ashamed of what she did."
Miss Amrisha Parathalingam, defending Elcock, said: "She is extremely sorry for what she has done."
Rob Cheveaux, North Area Managing Director at Arriva Midlands, said: "I am delighted that the court acknowledged the very serious nature of this incident.
"Some people seem to think that insurance fraud is a victimless, or less serious, type of crime but it is not. It has a direct effect on Arriva’s hard working drivers and on our law abiding customers."
