3 days ago
Man sentenced for classic car insurance scam involving fake thefts and forged documents
A conman who staged the theft of high-value classic cars to make bogus insurance claims has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
Danny Phipps, 32, of Lamberhurst, Kent, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday to 23 months' imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, for multiple offences involving fraudulent claims against Aviva and RSA over a 13-month period. He must also repay the money he obtained through the scam under a confiscation timetable set by the court.
The fraud centred on classic vehicles including two 1990 Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworths and a 1976 Mk2 Ford Escort RS2000, which Phipps insured and described as being in 'immaculate' condition. Within weeks of taking out the policies between February 2019 and March 2020, he reported the cars stolen and lodged large claims.
Among them was a Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth, added to a multi-vehicle policy in January 2019. Just weeks later, Phipps claimed it had been stolen in Chatham, Kent, submitting paperwork showing a £15,000 purchase price. Aviva paid out £14,150 after deductions, but a forensic review later confirmed that supporting documents — including Metro Bank statements — had been falsified.
Carl Mather, special investigations unit manager at Aviva, said: 'The audacity of Danny Phipps' repeated attempts to defraud insurers reveals a brazen disregard for the law and is as shocking as it is disturbing. Aviva was the first to detect Phipps's bogus claims, along with the associated fake and tampered documents he used to support them.
'We then worked closely with the City of London Police, the Insurance Fraud Bureau, and other insurers to uncover the full extent of the scam. We have a duty to protect our customers from the harmful effects of fraud, which is why Aviva continues to invest in market-leading fraud detection capabilities.'
In another claim in September 2019, Phipps reported the theft of a second Ford Sierra RS Cosworth from London, asserting it had been bought for £20,000 weeks earlier. Aviva's investigation found multiple discrepancies, including misleading transaction details and a lack of genuine proof of purchase.
The case was referred to the City of London Police's Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED), where Phipps answered 'no comment' in interviews.
Phipps also attempted to defraud Aviva through a business equipment policy, reporting the theft of an iTALMEK IC1.8 steel-cutting shear worth more than £17,000 from his Citroen Berlingo in October 2019. The bank statement he provided as proof of purchase was later found to have been fraudulently altered — a pattern repeated across his claims.
Detective Chief Inspector Nik Jethwa, from IFED, said: 'Driven purely by greed, Mr Phipps deliberately targeted high-value vehicles to create the illusion of genuine thefts. Thanks to the diligence of our team and the close cooperation from both Aviva and RSA, we were able to expose the pattern and bring this matter to justice.
'This outcome is a testament to the hard work and determination of a wide range of professionals — officers, forensic accountants, insurance investigators and legal experts — whose coordinated efforts were essential in securing this conviction.
'Insurance fraud is not a harmless crime — it affects honest policyholders and puts strain on valuable public and industry resources.'
