Another brick in the wall of deceit: man sentenced to 28 months in prison for fake stolen Lego claims

A man has been jailed for 28 months following an investigation by the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) into a series of fraudulent insurance claims, including fabricated reports of stolen high-value Lego sets.

Matthew Johnson, 42, of Colton Street, Misterton, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court today, where he was sentenced for fraud by false representation. In addition to the custodial term, the court imposed a confiscation timetable requiring Johnson to repay the proceeds of his offending.

Between May 2021 and January 2022, Johnson submitted a number of false claims to AXA Insurance, relating to alleged burglaries at properties in Shetland and Goole. The claims included high-value items such as MacBooks, televisions, gaming consoles, fishing equipment, and large quantities of collectible Lego sets. In total, Johnson received over £14,000 in insurance payouts across four separate claims.

Detective Constable Richard Fox, from the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED), said:

“This case highlights the meticulous work our officers carry out to expose and dismantle complex insurance fraud. Johnson created a web of false identities, forged documents, and fabricated claims to exploit the system for personal gain.

“Thanks to the vigilance of AXA and the determination of our team, we were able to bring him to justice. Insurance fraud drives up costs for honest customers and undermines trust in the industry - we remain committed to pursuing those who commit these offences.”

Concerns were raised by AXA after inconsistencies were identified in the documentation provided by Johnson. These included repeated use of the same receipts across different claims and invoices that appeared to have been altered to match the policy address.

The case was referred to IFED, who launched a criminal investigation. Officers contacted manufacturers and retailers who confirmed that the documents submitted by Johnson were fraudulent. Invoices were either falsified or related to products that had not been sold at the time of the alleged thefts.

In June 2023, IFED officers executed a search warrant at Johnson’s home address in Misterton. A large quantity of Lego matching the items reported stolen was found on display in the living room. Officers also seized an iMac from a converted shed, which contained digital evidence including copies of fake invoices, screenshots of insurance policies, and identity documents in multiple names.

Further enquiries revealed that Johnson had also submitted a claim under the name Gavin Beadle, using a different address in Goole. The banking details linked to this policy were traced back to Johnson, and a screenshot of the claim form was found on his computer. The identity documents used to support this claim were later confirmed by the Passport Office and DVLA to be fraudulent.

Matthew Johnson during interview

Bodyworn image of Lego sets taken during a search warrant