Five people were found guilty today (10/1) for their involvement in a fatal road traffic collision.
Andrzej Boguslaw Skowron, aged 25, from Shelley Gardens, Wembley, has been convicted of causing death by dangerous driving and conspiracy to commit fraud.
Radoslaw Piotr Bielawski, aged 24, from Rosewood Avenue, Greenford has been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and conspiracy to commit fraud. He had already pleaded guilty to doing acts tending to pervert the course of justice.
Jacek Kowalczyk, aged 32, from Fraser Road, Perivale, Greenford, has been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving, conspiracy to commit fraud and doing acts tending to pervert the course of justice.
Artur Okrutny, aged 23, from Briar Road, London, has been convicted of doing acts tending to pervert the course of justice.
Baljit Ubhey OBE, Chief Crown Prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said:
“This case involved the staging of a road traffic collision for financial gain, which caused the death of an innocent motorist, Miss Baljinder Kaur Gill.
“Miss Gill lost her life on 11 June 2011, as a consequence of a ‘crash for cash’ insurance scam collision on the A40 near Denham, Buckinghamshire; a collision contrived by a ruthless gang of men so that they could profit financially from the submission of fraudulent insurance claims. Her death was Britain’s first fatality as a result of ‘crash for cash’. An earlier report from the Insurance Fraud Bureau warned it was merely a matter of time before a death occurred on British roads – sadly prophetic words. The location chosen for the staged collision created an obvious risk that an innocent motorist would be killed as a result of their greed.
“According to figures from the Insurance Fraud Bureau, the annual cost to the motor industry of crash for cash is £392 million, which equates to about £1.7 million per day. The risk that these defendants took with the lives of innocent motorists such as Miss Gill was enormous. The potential advantage to them was comparatively small. Whiplash to three of them would have secured them between £12-15,000, plus whatever damage was done to their car. They selfishly placed their own financial gain over and above the life of Miss Gill.
“The crash for cash scam has increasingly blighted the roads of the UK in the last few years, placing innocent road users in unnecessary peril. The result of this case sends a clear message to those who might consider becoming involved in similar activities that they not only risk the lives of innocent members of the community, but they will be brought to justice.
“As a result of the hard work and diligence of the prosecution team, and especially Sergeant Upton and PC Gibson, justice has been achieved for the victim and her family and friends. The officers, from Thames Valley Police’s Road Death Investigation Team, determined that this was a crash for cash case at an early stage and thereafter pursued what was a complex fraud investigation.
“We hope that today’s convictions and sentences will in some way help Miss Gill’s family and friends come to terms with this tragic event. However, we acknowledge that nothing can make up for the loss felt by the family and friends of Miss Gill and our thoughts are very much with them at this difficult time.
“The Crown Prosecution Service worked closely with Thames Valley Police during this investigation and will continue to seek to bring to justice anyone who engages in similar lawless behaviour."
Colin Lee, aged 32, from York Place, Aylesbury, was also found guilty of causing death by careless driving. Lee was the driver of the van that fatally collided with the victim but was not involved with the scam.
