A FRAUDSTER who faked crashes to con drivers out of money has been jailed.
Simon McDonagh, aged 36, would throw an object at a car as it passed his vehicle, making his victims think they had hit something.
He then waved them down and told them they had damaged his wing mirror.
Avon & Somerset police said he would suggest they pay him cash to repair the ‘damage’, to avoid making an insurance claim and when some said they were unable to provide cash, he asked them to transfer money via PayPal.
McDonagh carried out the scams between March and June last year in Staple Hill, Soundwell, Kingswood and Speedwell, using a vehicle with false number plates.
He made more than £5,500 from 11 different “vulnerable” victims, ranging from a student to men in their 80s.
A police spokesperson said McDonagh accompanied one victim, a man in his 70s, to his bank. After the man withdrew £995, McDonagh demanded another £500 and sent him back into the bank for it, taking a total of £1,495.
After being reported to police, McDonagh, of Brookthorpe, near Gloucester, was arrested.
He pleaded guilty to 11 counts of fraud and six counts of fraudulently using a vehicle registration, and was jailed for two years and eight months when he appeared at Bristol Crown Court Court in March.
He was also banned from driving for more than three years.
Afterwards PC Kayleigh Hole said: “While the amounts in this case were not tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds, each amount was significant to each and every one of the victims.
“We hope that this encourages others to recognise and report any signs of fraud.
“Suspicious behaviour may include someone urging you to avoid formal processes – such as going through your insurer – providing false or incomplete details, or requesting cash payments without issuing an invoice.”