Police Appeal Over Mr Whippy Cash-For-Crash Van

Detectives are appealing for information about a Mr Whippy ice cream van used in a string of cash-for-crash insurance frauds.

Barry Sandman, 39, told insurers he was involved in an accident in Strood with the pink, blue and white van.

But when investigators inspected the vehicle they realised they had examined it before over an earlier claim for £15,400.

Detectives later discovered the cheque was cashed by somebody using a false Irish driving licence.

Enquiries revealed a third claim over a collision in Burnley during which the van was discovered to have been using false number plates.

The other vehicle allegedly involved in this collision was advertised for sale on Gumtree undamaged 12 days later.

When detectives compared images of the van taken by different insurers they discovered the damage and mileage were the same, suggesting it had not been driven between the 'accidents', contrary to claims.

Sandmann, of Strood, Kent, was given a suspended sentence and community order at the Old Bailey on Friday after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud and fraud by false representation.

He admitted lying about the details of a crash in December 2013, after he hit another vehicle while uninsured, according to officers.

Police have yet to trace the original owner of the van and DC Paula Doyle, of the City of London Police has appealed for anyone with information about the van or its owner to come forward.

"In the space of two months, Sandmann not only tried to take out a policy to cover him for an accident that had already happened, but then tried to facilitate a crash for cash scam so that others could profit," she said.

"We're still keen to hear from anyone who may have seen the ice cream van involved, or knows who owns it, as there are others involved in setting up this scam that we have not been able to identify."