A MAN found that he had been 'duped' by a car insurance scam when he was involved in a collision - despite police having previously accepted his documentation as legitimate.

Mohammad Aqdas Hussain, 21, said that he had seen an Instagram promotion from a company purporting to be Hastings Insurance, quoting £1,300 for an annual premium, which he paid directly from his bank account after purchasing a Seat Leon in May 2020.

He then received a certificate of insurance and naturally believed that he was legally insured to drive the car.

Greater Manchester magistrates' court heard how Hussain, of Taunton Road, Blackburn, had been driving on Newton Road, Wigan, in August 2020 when he was stopped by officers and asked to provide proof of insurance.

Hussain produced the insurance document he had received, purporting to be from Hastings, which the police accepted and the matter was closed.

However, when Hussain was involved in a collision a month later in September 2020, he contacted Hastings only to be told that there was no certificate or policy in his name.

It became apparent that Hussain had been duped by the Instagram promotion.

He pleaded guilty to having used a motor vehicle on a public road without third party insurance and this was taken into account when he was fined a total of £349 to be paid in monthly instalments of £50, payable from September 2021.