Range Rover fraud lands Somerset man in court

A man from Somerset was sentenced after attempting to defraud £108,700 by falsely claiming his Range Rover Sport vehicle had been stolen and crashed while he attended a pub crawl with friends.

George Sawyer, 38, told his insurer that the vehicle was stolen via keyless entry while he was out drinking in Axminster on 9 October 2023.

However, Avon and Somerset Police found the car abandoned in a field near Chard. And, despite submitting an insurance claim, Sawyer was still in possession of both sets of car keys and could not explain how the vehicle had been stolen.

Investigators uncovered extensive evidence contradicting Sawyer’s account, including mobile phone records, banking activity and vehicle telematics.

Avon and Somerset Police subsequently closed the theft investigation, noting a “high chance this is a false report”, referring the case to the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (Ifed) at the City of London Police.

Pub crawl gone wrong 

Ifed detective constable Michael Boland said: “What began as a harmless day out among friends quickly descended into something far more dangerous and deeply troubling.

“It’s sheer luck that no one was hurt in the crash, but the potential for serious injury was very real and Sawyer showed a complete lack of accountability.

“Let this serve as a warning – if you think you can deceive the police and your insurance company, think again. We will uncover the truth and when we do, the consequences can be severe.”

Sawyer was sentenced to three months’ custody, suspended for 18 months, alongside a rehabilitation order and 80 hours of unpaid work to be completed within 12 months.

City of London Police stressed that insurance fraud was not a victimless crime, warning that it ultimately drives up premiums for genuine policyholders and undermines trust in the insurance system.