Family faked sickness to claim $87,000 in holiday scam
A family accused of faking sickness on holiday to claim AU$87,000 in compensation from travel company Thomas Cook are set to appear in court in a landmark case.
British couple Deborah Briton, 53, and partner Paul Roberts, 43, are said to have lodged bogus food poisoning claims for themselves and their two children on all-inclusive holiday in Majorca, Spain.
A preliminary hearing also discovered Mrs Briton’s daughter Charlene Briton, 30, submitted a further false claim for herself and her young daughter for their holiday last year.
All three appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court last week where they pleaded not guilty to six counts of fraud.
District judge Andrew Shaw said the allegations represented a “sophisticated fraud with relatively high value of money claimed”.
The case was adjourned until August 10, and the defendants were given unconditional bail.
The landmark case is the first time a fake holiday sickness compensation claims has made its way to British criminal court. If convicted, they could face between 18 months and six years in prison.