Solicitor handed £30k court bill for fraudulent pothole damage claims

A solicitor has been handed a £30,000 court bill following an investigation into fraudulent pothole damage claims.
Alykhaan Nourani, from Manchester, claimed vehicles had been damaged by potholes on roads in Stoke-on-Trent. But he was found guilty of fraud for vehicle damage claims totalling £874.
The fraud was first identified by an internal insurance officer at the city council who noticed anomalies with an invoice which Nourani provided in April 2021 from a local car dealership. They found a similar pattern with an earlier invoice from November 2019.
He was found guilty of four counts of fraud in February and last week was has handed an eight-month sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work. He must also abide by a six-month curfew between 7pm and 7am.
The judge highlighted Nourani's high level of culpability, stating that his role as a solicitor – regularly dealing with personal injury claims – was an aggravating factor.
The probation officer also confirmed that Nourani showed no remorse for his actions. He has also been referred to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
Cllr Amjid Wazir OBE, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "Let this be a clear warning – we will not tolerate fraud in this city.
"We have robust checks in place to protect taxpayers' money and we will pursue fraudsters through the courts whenever necessary
"Fraudulent clams take money away from essential public services like improving our road network. We've worked tirelessly to repair more than 14,000 defects in the last 12 months and with £22 million of government investment, we are committed to doing even more.
"I'd like to thank the individuals and businesses who have assisted this investigation and provided vital evidence in court. Fraud will not be ignored in Stoke-on-Trent – we will always take strong action to protect the public purse."
CHECK OUT OUR Jobs Section HERE!
stoke vacancies updated hourly!
Click here to see more: stoke jobs
Share: