Mum and daughter led car insurance fiddle, court told

Mum and daughter led car insurance fiddle, court told

18 September 2013

A COURT has heard how four people, including a mother and daughter, took part in an insurance fraud after a car accident.

Ann Marie Morgan (45), Chloe Morgan (20), Lee Stevens (21), all of Cumber Hill, Drumaness, and Mark McMahon (24), of Oaklands, Darragh Cross, were in court on Thursday as a result of an attempted scam two years ago.

Downpatrick Court heard that Chloe Morgan crashed her car through a fence on the Carrickmannon Road, in Ballygowan, on July 3, 2011. Stevens, her boyfriend, was a passenger.

Two days later her mother, Ann Marie Morgan, contacted AXA Insurance and claimed that she was the driver in an attempt to prevent her daughter’s insurance premiums going up. Ann Marie Morgan was later paid £3,450 by AXA Insurance.

In a further twist, Chloe Morgan, Stevens and McMahon submitted claims for injuries sustained in the accident, even though McMahon had not been in the car.

However, the scam fell apart when Stevens went to his GP for a medical examination and admitted that Chloe Morgan was the driver of the car.

The court also heard that witnesses at the scene of the accident gave statements indicating that there were only two people, and not four as claimed.

McMahon later admitted going along with the plan because he was out of work and needed money. Ann Marie Morgan, Chloe Morgan and Stevens also admitted their dishonesty to AXA.

A solicitor appearing for Stevens said: “It wasn’t one person who came up with the plan. Lee Stevens was the front seat passenger and he was hurt.”

The solicitor said Stevens decided to “go along with” the fraud.

Passing sentence, District Judge Joe Rice told the four that if they had records for dishonesty they would be facing jail sentences.

“They have absolutely no concerns about premiums for other people in Northern Ireland,” he said. “This type of deceitful, dishonest behaviour needs to be stamped out in society.

“They will all have a criminal record now that will affect them socially, financially and their passports.”

The four defendants were each given four-month jail sentences, suspended for three years, and fined £500.

Ann Marie Morgan was also ordered to pay £250 compensation to AXA.

Judge Rice warned the defendants: “If you break the law for dishonesty you may well trigger off the four months on top of anything you get.”