An insurance fraudster from Wales who accused his own lawyer of framing him has been sentenced to jail for eight months for contempt of court.
Kevin Hooper, 48, was found guilty of the charges after he was involved in a car accident in March 2014. According to legal industry news website
Litigation Futures, the resulting insurance claims were settled and there were no questions about liability.
Six months later, however, Hooper’s insurer
Zurich received personal injury claims from him and three other supposed passengers. The insurance company later discovered that the four men were not involved in the accident.
Among the four claimants, Hooper was the only one who initiated the proceedings. However, he immediately withdrew his claim when evidence against him was presented.
Legal firm Horwich Farrelly asked the court to continue the proceedings while Hooper then accused his lawyer of submitting the claim without his consent,
Litigation Futures reported.
However, the lawyer produced documentary evidence and a recording of Hooper’s phone conversation wherein he detailed his claim and alleged injuries.
Hooper disputed this, arguing that an impostor was on the phone conversation and that he was illiterate.
Medical records failed to support Hooper’s latest excuse He was also unable to provide further evidence to back up his claims.
“In the circumstances, you have not helped yourself. I have regard to the fact of the aggravating feature that you have failed to admit anything and have sought to blame your previous legal representatives,”
Litigation Futures quoted Lord Justice Elias as saying.
“You have failed to face your dishonesty and instead have been dodging and weaving. You have sought to embroider your account as the evidence has strengthened... The court has to accordingly take a strong line,” the judge added.
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