Facebook evidence helps AXA win fraud case against boxing champion
French insurer AXA has won a fraud court case in the UK against three-time Home Counties boxing champion Conroy Downer by using Facebook evidence.
Downer, was involved in a low-speed collision in Luton in June 2016 and had claimed that the accident had left him with injuries to his neck and back.
However, investigations by AXA and law firm DAC Beachcroft, uncovered that Downer had not visited his general practitioner (GP) despite his injuries and had posted images on Facebook of himself engaged in various exercises.
In addition, the damage to his Mitsubishi Warrior was found to be inconsistent with the injuries he claimed he had suffered. A last-minute attempt by Downer to vacate the hearing was rejected by the judge at Northampton County Court.
The court found that Downer, had been “fundamentally dishonest” and ordered him to pay £13,046 in costs. AXA has also added Downer to the Insurance Fraud Register.
“We believe that fraudsters should be held responsible for their actions and we were pleased that Downer was found fundamentally dishonest after exaggerating his injuries from what was a very minor collision,” said Tom Wilson, counter fraud manager AXA UK.
“The real victims of insurance fraud, especially of this type, are honest policyholders. We hope that the court continues to take a strong stance against fraudsters in these cases,” Wilson added.
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