A man from Shooter's Hill has been given a suspended prison sentence for fabricating a car theft in order to make a false insurance claim.

Mohamed Soltan, 28, was sentenced after lying about his car being stolen in order to make a false insurance claim, as well as telling insurers the car was worth double its true value.

Soltan, of Shooters Hill Road, was caught out after analysis of his key fob revealed his car hadn't been used for several months.

On Friday, November 15, Soltan pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court and was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and 200 hours unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £705 compensation costs and £250 court costs.

In October 2017, Soltan told his insurance company that his car had been stolen while he was away on holiday, but the insurer had concerns of the validity of the claim and referred the case onto the City of London Police's Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department.

Detective constable Kevin Carter, who led the investigation, said: “Soltan purchased an un-roadworthy car through an online auction. Unable to sell it on, he insured it for an inflated sum and then tried to claim that it had been stolen. Had he been successful, he would have benefitted by more than £10,000 from his insurance company.

“Thankfully, the insurers followed-up on their initial concerns and referred the case onto IFED, and our investigation resulted in Soltan getting the justice he deserved.”

It was discovered that Soltan had originally bought the car for £11,247, but told his insurers he'd paid £23,000 for the car.

The key fob, which Soltan confirmed was the only one, was analysed, and revealed that the car hadn't been used since May that year.

When presented with these findings, Soltan initially disputed them, claiming he'd driven the car with his girlfriend and father on the evening before his holiday.

Neither his father nor his girlfriend responded to police requests for statements.