Images from a 21st Century CCTV system fitted to an Arriva bus have been used as evidence in the successful prosecution of a crash for cash scam case.
It was alleged that a gang set up a crash between the Arriva bus and a people carrier in order to claim thousands of pounds in insurance payments. Eight bus passengers were injured in the crash.
A third gang member has now been jailed for 18 months, following the conviction earlier this year of his two associates.
Earlier this year the judge jailed the bus driver, Philip Leedham of Damson Road, Childwall, Merseyside, for two years and a second man was jailed for 18 months for his part in the scam.
At first it was thought that the crash was genuine, until officials studied the CCTV evidence. On-board footage showed the people carrier travelling very close to the bus then braking for no apparent reason causing the bus to ‘shunt’ into its rear.
Images from 21st Century’s CCTV systems have been praised in the past by police forces for their extremely high quality and have assisted in numerous cases of criminal behaviour, violence and fraud.
Following the conviction, Phil Stone Regional Managing Director for Arriva North West commented: “For a bus driver to put passengers and other road users at risk as part of a criminal activity is a complete disgrace. He’s a discredit to all the many dedicated bus drivers who take their responsibilities seriously. We are happy to see convictions in this case and will work with the police using the CCTV on our buses and other investigative techniques to pursue anyone who attempts to defraud us.”
Had Arriva lost the case, the company estimates that it would have cost them in excess of £100,000.