Crash story bid to cover for son

3:22pm Tuesday 22nd April 2008

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A businessman who tried to get £1,500 for a works van in an insurance scam has kept his freedom.

Andrew Mace, 44, gave two completely different stories over a crash to the police and his insurance company, both of which were taped.

He claimed the van had been stolen but had invented the tale because his son, who was about to join the army, had been at the wheel.

Mace, of Hoyle Street, Rising Bridge, admitted attempting to obtain property by deception between October and November 2006. He was given 24 weeks' prison, suspended for six months, and must live at his home address for seven days. He must pay £150 costs.

Sentencing, Judge Beverley Lunt told the defendant that behaviour such as his meant everyone had to pay increased insurance premiums and said he must receive a custodial sentence to send a message to others tempted to act in the same way.

The judge added that the offence was 18 months ago, Mace had never done anything like it before or since, was working and had child care commitments.

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, told Burnley Crown Court that Mace's works van, which he owned with his business partner, was driven and crashed somewhere in the Rawtenstall area last October. Police attended, no driver was around and the vehicle was impounded.

Martin Hackett, defending, said Mace accepted the offence was serious. He went on: "His son was driving and was just about to join the army. He invented a story and it spiralled out of control."