Amateur footballer spotted playing soccer after claiming injuries had ended his career
An amateur footballer has been jailed after trying to con insurers for a £1.35m payout for car crash injuries, despite being fit enough to play for his local club.
James Shikell, 31, was a passenger in a car accident in 2002 and three years later the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) paid out. He claimed the injuries were crippling and they had ended his playing days.
However, the MIB spotted that Shikiell playing football for Doncaster side Edlington Rangers.
Shikell, of Doncaster, denied contempt of court at the High Court, sitting in Leeds, but was convicted and jailed for 12 months.
MIB chief executive Ashton West said: “This custodial sentence will be a deterrent to those who seek to defraud MIB and therefore every insured driver in Britain.
“This was a significant amount of money that was fraudulently claimed and the fact that a custodial sentence was handed down reflects the seriousness of the offence.”
According to the MIB around four per cent of the 35 million vehicles on the roads are uninsured. Figures show that West Yorkshire is one of the worst places in the country for uninsured drivers.
