Fraudster jailed over £300k travel insurance claims

A fraudster who claimed more than £300,000 in a series of bogus travel insurance claims has been jailed for four and a half years.

Claims submitted by 46-year-old Daniel Thomas, from Reading, included saying he was injured in a crash and contracted salmonella during family holidays to Antigua.

Direct Line Group, the Post Office and Great Lakes Insurance SE were among those defrauded, with the scam only coming to light when the National Crime Agency investigated his alleged role in sabotaging a drugs trial, uncovering key evidence.

Already in prison for another offence, he admitted to fraud by misrepresentation and money laundering. He was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday.

He used multiple false identities, fabricated medical documents and evidence from fake doctors to make the claims.

Thomas claimed his offending was driven by gambling and drug debts of about £500,000 owed to Romanian crime gangs, but police said they had "found no evidence to support this."

Instead, Thomas was found to have spent the money on luxury holidays, a wedding, vehicles and shopping.

Thomas was jailed in March for three years and four months for perverting the course of justice in an unrelated case.

Officers from City of London Police worked with the National Crime Agency and insurers to secure the conviction.

Det Con Carley Parodi, from City of London Police, said: "This outcome demonstrates how close collaboration between industry and law enforcement partners can bring offenders to justice.

"Thomas exploited the insurance industry for personal financial gain. Our role is to protect honest policyholders and support the integrity of the insurance industry."