A man who tried to sue his council over injuries from a faulty drain has been exposed by a video showing him leaping into a puddle.
Stephen Robinson, 30, was attempting to sue Newcastle City Council for £17,000 after claiming a fall on a broken drain caused him to break his ankle and rupture tendons.
However investigators later uncovered a video on YouTube of Robinson launching himself into a pool of water and limping out with an injury.
Warning: Video contains graphic content
About to stand trial at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court, Robinson admitted to making a false claim and pleaded guilty to fraud.
District judge Stephen Earl said social media and YouTube were becoming ‘great tools for prosecutors as people just cant resist sharing’.
He added: ‘I have seen people do some stupid things but putting the evidence out there is just the most stupid thing I have seen in a while.’
Robinson was given an 18-month community order and told to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £600 costs and a £60 surcharge.
Newcastle City Council had received a letter on 23 July from Zurich stating that they were taking up Robinson’s claim for personal injury. The insurers were chasing a £17,115 payout until investigators received the tip off.
Defending, John Wesencraft, said Robinson had made no financial gain from the claim as it was stopped before any pay-out. He added that his client was more likely to have received £10,000.
‘What he has always believed is that he had landed unharmed and as he came back toward the pavement he trapped his foot in the drain,’ added Wesencraft.
Zurich claims fraud and investigations manager, Scott Clayton, said: ‘Zurich takes every instance of fraud seriously - it is the blight of our industry. Indeed, Stephen Robinson's attempt to de-fraud Newcastle City Council and its taxpayers has unsurprisingly landed him in deep water.’
Newcastle City Council’s cabinet member for resources, Cllr Veronica Dunn, said: ‘I am delighted with the outcome of this case. Stephen Robinson attempted to defraud the city council and the council taxpayers in the most despicable way.
‘We investigate all suspected fraudulent claims, and on this occasion received an invaluable tip-off from a member of the public who viewed the footage on YouTube.
‘This has cost him dearly, and I hope it sends out a clear message that Newcastle City Council will not hesitate to call in the police and prosecute anyone who attempts to defraud the public purse by submitting fraudulent insurance claims.’
