Stotfold crash cash mastermind is jailed

Mario Panico led a group of people who orchestrated elaborate schemes which conned insurance companies out of more than £120,000.

The gang made numerous claims between July 2012 and March 2014, which related to road traffic collisions that either had not taken place at all, or were deliberately caused.

Six of the group were sentenced on Friday, March 11, at Peterborough Crown Court, while Panico and Rajesh Kurmi were sentenced on Friday, April 29, at Cambridge Crown Court. Seven pleaded guilty to multiple offences while Rajesh Kurmi, was convicted following a trial.

The court heard how the group gave different accounts for the alleged accidents and how a garage used to carry out the repairs on the vehicles was owned by one of the people making the claim.

Panico, 58, of Stotfold: 2 years.

Rajesh Kurmi, 43, of Letchworth Garden City: 18 months suspended for two years.

Melissa Brown, 40, of Letchworth Garden City: 250 hours of unpaid work.

Paul Wright, 35, of Stevenage: 250 hours of unpaid work.

Lee Chapman, 26, of Hitchin: two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years

Craig Walsh, 28, of Baldock: 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years

Generoso Follano, 44, of Baldock: 250 hours of unpaid work.

Kieran Cross, 27, of Baldock: 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years.