Jury told of pensioner's death in '˜crash for cash' scam

AN INNOCENT pensioner was killed when the car she was travelling in was hit in a '˜crash for cash' plot organised by four men, a jury heard.
ll
l

Betty Laird, 88, suffered fatal spinal injuries when the Renault Kangoo she was a passenger in was struck on Old Lane, Beeston, Leeds, on September 10, 2014.

The prosecution at Leeds Crown Court allege four men in a VW Passat who drove into the side of the Kangoo did so in order to make fraudulent injury compensation claims from insurance companies.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The alleged driver of the Passat, Sabbir Hussain, 25, and two alleged passengers, Raja Hussain, 30, and Sharear Islam-Miah, 26, are on trial at Leeds Crown Court accused of manslaughter and conspiracy to commit fraud.

The jury has been told a fourth man, Muhammed Ubaidullah, has already pleaded guilty to manslaughter, conspiracy to commit fraud and attempting to pervert the court of justice.

Peter Moulson, QC, prosecuting, said: “All were involved, we say, in what has come to be known as a cash for crash collision.”

He added: “Their collective plan was to deliberately collide with another vehicle and then follow that vehicle with claims for financial compensation for injuries allegedly sustained in that collision.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The jury was told Mrs Laird was in the vehicle with her friend Geoff Grimshaw, 77, at the time of the incident.

Mr Moulson said Mrs Laird suffered multiple injuries in the collision and died later that evening.

The court heard Mr Grimshaw died later of causes unrelated to the collision.

The prosecutor said Ubaidullah was interviewed by police on the day of the incident and claimed that he had been the driver, blaming Mr Grimshaw for the collision.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Moulson said Ubaidullah later changed his account and said Sabbir Hussain was the driver and the collision had been caused deliberately.

He added: “Ubaidullah said that the plan of the team was to drive around waiting for an opportunity to cause a collision.”

Jurors were told Ubaidullah would give evidence at the trial.

Raja Hussain, of Trentham Grove, Beeston, Leeds; Sabbir Hussain, of no fixed address, and Shareer Islam Miah, of George Street, Oldham, plead not guilty to manslaughter and conspiracy to commit fraud.

The trial continues.

Related topics: