Hardeep Dehal, a serving Metropolitan Police officer, has today (24 July) been found guilty of planning to fraudulently claim £18,415 in a staged crash-for-cash with a Tesco delivery van.
He was sentenced to 30 months’ immediate custody.
Tesco delivery driver Raiyaan Anwar also admitted the offence, which took place on 11 March 2016.
On that day a Citroen car was driving in East London with five people in it, including Dehal.
According to a pre-planned arrangement, Anwar crashed into the Citroen. He reported the crash to his employers, Tesco, as a genuine accident caused by him. Dehal alleged that he had suffered injuries and made claims for compensation.
Tesco’s insurance company admitted liability, on the understanding that one of its delivery drivers had been at fault in a genuine collision with members of the public. The amount of compensation due to each of the men was still left to be determined.
Dehal submitted medical reports claiming conditions such as severe pain, stiffness and discomfort, and anxiety.
Busola Johnson, of the CPS, said “Hardeep Dehal claimed personal injury as a result of the staged crash and stood to gain thousands of pounds from insurance companies.
“Not only had he meticulously planned the fraudulent crash, but he put himself at risk of real physical harm in the pursuit of insurance money.
“Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime. Payouts based on fraudulent claims lead to increased premiums for ordinary, hard-working people.”
Building the case
The prosecution used analysis of telephone data, including text messages and cell site evidence to prove the planning behind the fraudulent collision.
This evidence showed that the defendants, between them, had exchanged 375 telephone contacts over a two-month period shortly before the crash.
