Peter Emiantor from Southampton was sentenced to 18 months in prison after attempting to claim £25,000 on insurance creating fake invoices for items which he alleged had been stolen during a burglary at his home.
On 28 March 2014, Emiantor made a report to Hampshire Police that his house had been burgled.
On 7 May 2014, the law student made a further statement to the police claiming that several items had been stolen including a Breitling watch worth £6580, two Apple Mac books, perfume and a £5500 yellow diamond engagement ring.
He submitted several invoices and receipts to his insurance company to prove ownership of the items. However due to the high value of the claim, the case was referred for a further investigation to a firm of loss adjusters.
The loss adjusters suspected that Emiantor had in fact created fake invoices and receipts, in order to prove the purchase of the items. This was highlighted by a typo of a website address on one of the invoices.
As a result, the claim was refused and the matter was forwarded onto the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department.
A search of his property was conducted, where detectives found various items relating to the claim including fake receipts and invoices relating to the supposed stolen items.
On 9 December 2014, Emiantor was arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation and possession of articles for use in fraud.
He was charged on 25 March 2015 with both offences.
A four day trial took place at Southampton Crown Court and on 1 October Emiantor was found guilty of both offences.
He was sentenced to 18 months for fraud by false Representation and six months possession of articles for use in fraud to be served concurrently.
City of London Police Detective Detective Constable Jamie Kirk who led the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department’s investigation, said: “Emiantor claimed to have been burgled in an attempt to fool his home insurance company out of £25,000.
“He thought that by making a false report to the police that his claim would be granted without an investigation.
“However he made a critical error with a typo on one of the invoices which has led to his conviction.
“This is another example of the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department and the Insurance industry working together to bring criminals to justice and help reduce people’s insurance premiums”