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A BOLTON man led a “cash for crash” crime network which stretched across the north of England, a court heard.

Mohammed Patel, aged 23, staged more than 90 car crashes in three years so that he and his gang could make bogus insurance claims.

Patel, of Nottingham Drive, Bolton, braked suddenly on roundabouts across the North West causing innocent drivers to crash into him from behind, Manchester Crown Court was told.

It was claimed he personally gained at least £46,000 from the plan.

Patel’s fellow conspirators then pretended they had been in the vehicle and used false car damage reports and injury claims to make thousands of pounds worth of bogus insurance claims, the court heard. Patel and 16 others, seven of whom are from Bolton, have admitted their part in the con.

But Rashid Shaikah, aged 29, of Victoria Road, Dewsbury, denies taking any part.

William Baker, prosecuting, said: “There is evidence Patel received £500 for each collision — of which he had staged at least 92.”

He added: “There is a commonly held belief that if you run into the back of someone then it is your fault. So it is more likely to be admitted by the innocent driver.”

The court heard that on October 25, 2005, Patel staged an accident on a roundabout near Cheadle. He then gave Shaikah’s details to the driver of the other car.

Within hours Patel and his co-conspirators had instructed solicitors to claim £5,000 worth of damage to the car, despite photographs showing that it received barely a scratch.

The court heard that the car was deliberately reversed into a post after the accident to cause more damage.

The car, an Audi, belonged to Iqbal Khan, aged 49 of Argo Street, Daubhill, and he claimed for the damage. The court also heard that his son Ershad Khan, aged 22, also of Argo Street, claimed to be a passenger in the car and, along with Shaikah, made a claim for whiplash injury.

The fraud came to light after staff from an office block overlooking the roundabout noticed that there were a lot of similar accidents taking place outside.

They began to look out for the accidents, and noticed that the same man, Patel, was driving each time.

Insurance companies began to dispute claims and the police were called in.

Iqbal and Ershad Khan have both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud. Patel has pleaded guilty to 17 charges including conspiracy to defraud, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving with no insurance.

The trial continues