Whiplash fraudster given two month prison sentence

Shahid Hussain had claimed whiplash injuries and vehicle hire and repair costs after alleging that a Churchill Insurance policyholder had driven into him as he drove along a slip road in 2013.

Three passengers, allegedly travelling in Mr Hussain’s car at the time of the accident, had also claimed for whiplash injuries.

Jemma Lewis, counter fraud partner at DAC Beachcroft, said: “This was a deliberate ‘slam-on’ accident by a claimant, who had then hoped to claim damages, fraudulently.

“It is excellent that the judge saw through Mr Hussain’s attempt to defraud Churchill Insurance.”

Hussain’s sentence was reduced as he pleaded guilty to eight of the 16 false statements made to the court but this was sufficient to result in an immediate prison sentence.

Mark Chiappino, counter fraud manager at Churchill Insurance , said: “Once again, people attempting to defraud Churchill Insurance should know that we will use the full weight of the law against them in our fight to protect our innocent customers.

“The actions of this individual were not only dishonest but also dangerous to himself and other road users.”

At the hearing of the civil claim for damages, the evidence Hussain gave in court was so contradictory and unsatisfactory that he asked to withdraw his claim.

The judge allowed him to do so only on the basis he should pay all the costs of the claim, as his claim had been fundamentally dishonest.

Liam Murdin of St Johns Buildings represented the defendant, Churchill Insurance, on the instruction of DAC Beachcroft.  He said: “It is important for claimants and their representatives to realise that, in circumstances where they are found to have misled the court, judges regard that fraud as a very serious matter. 

“There have been several recently-reported cases of claimants being sentenced to immediate terms of custody, and judges are becoming ever more willing to impose immediate terms of custody, where fundamental dishonesty is held to have occurred.”