Minibus fraud

November 2010 saw an insurance fraud gang convicted after fraudulent insurance claims were made following a collision in Manchester. Mohammed Iqbal (pictured), a taxi driver from Old Trafford, received a 150-hour community punishment and was ordered to pay costs.

Iqbal worked for Taxi company M Travel who had a contract with Pakistan-based airline Air Blue to transport their pilots and cabin crew from Manchester Airport.

In May 2008, his minibus was transporting eight cabin crew when it was involved in a minor collision with a Mercedes. None of the passengers were hurt but insurance claims were later made by nine further people who claimed they had been injured in the accident.

Iqbal said that the extra claims where from members of his family who were also onboard the minibus at the time. He was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud alongside three of the other claimants.