Four garage owners convicted of insurance fraud

Four north Cumbrian car dealers and garage owners have been found guilty of large-scale insurance fraud after a four-week trial.

Details of the fraud are limited, although prosecutors say the offences included hire and storage charges.

Peter Farish owned used car company Castleway Motors, Carlisle, Duncan Pape operated bodyshop Tekno Painting, while Richard Miller has R Miller Bodyworks in Blencogo and Stuart Bell owns S&A Bell.

The four men were brought to court following a joint and lengthy inquiry by Cumbria Police, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Insurance Fraud Bureau.

Speaking after their conviction, temporary detective chief inspector Andy Hill, of Cumbria Police, said, ‘Following a trial at Carlisle Crown Court, four local garage owners have been convicted of insurance fraud. The prosecution case was that false claims for car hire and other garage related charges had been submitted to motor insurance companies.’

All four men will return to court next month for a further hearing when a sentencing date will be set.