Driver's Story Of Stolen Car Backfires
Newcastle Herald
Tuesday December 21, 2004
A MAN sought an insurance payout after crashing his car by saying that the damage was done while the vehicle was stolen, Newcastle Court was told yesterday.
Brendan Murray Williams, 21, unemployed, of Teralba Road, Adamstown, was sentenced to a suspended nine months' jail term with a six-month non-parole period, and ordered to do 200 hours' community service.Williams was charged with having caused a police investigation when he falsely reported early on July 16 that he had been robbed of his wallet and car keys, and with having used deception when he tried to obtain a financial advantage.He had been convicted in his absence of the charges during earlier proceedings.Senior Constable Scott Metcalfe said in a tendered statement that Williams was driving home when his car hit a bridge in Sketchley Parade, New Lambton.So that the insurance company would pay for the repairs, Williams had falsely represented to police that he had been "king hit" and knocked out as he was crossing Pacific Park in Newcastle on July 16.He claimed he regained consciousness and found his wallet and car keys were missing.
© 2004 Newcastle Herald