Crime
Fined £10,000 after fleeing to America over ‘brazen’ car scam
THE MASTERMIND behind a sophisticated car accident scam, swindling motorists out of hundreds of thousands of pounds, has been fined £10,000 after fleeing to the United States to evade justice.
Jonathan Riches, 46, illegally accessed the personal information of drivers involved in car accidents while employed at Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Wales. He used this data to target victims with personal injury claims through a company he later established. Riches, who committed the offences between 2009 and 2011, was also ordered to pay £1,700 in costs by Cardiff Crown Court. The Judge, His Honour Francis, ruled that if Riches fails to pay the fine within 12 months, he will face a nine-month custodial sentence.
The court heard how Riches exploited his former role at Enterprise Rent-A-Car to obtain confidential information, contacting former colleagues to gain unauthorised access to the company’s client database. This allowed him to identify and approach accident victims, offering them legal services through his own firm.
Riches, from South Wales, was not alone in his scheme. His accomplices, Jamie Leong, Michelle Craddock, and Andrew Minty, had previously been sentenced for their roles in the operation. Together, they managed to circumvent security measures, gaining access to personal data that Riches then used for financial gain.
The Judge condemned Riches for his “cynical breach of trust,” describing the operation as both sophisticated and long-running. This latest court appearance comes years after Riches was initially ordered to pay £300,000 in a civil settlement to Enterprise Rent-A-Car. His crimes were further scrutinised when he was interviewed by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in the following year.
Despite being summoned to court in 2016, Riches absconded to the United States, resulting in a warrant for his arrest. After years on the run, he returned to the UK and surrendered to authorities earlier this year.
Speaking after the sentencing, Andy Curry, Head of Investigations at the ICO, expressed satisfaction with the outcome. “We are pleased to see justice served in this case. Mr Riches orchestrated a brazen operation, using his accomplices to illegally access Enterprise Rent-A-Car systems and steal data, enriching himself by hundreds of thousands of pounds,” said Curry.
He added, “The unauthorised use of personal data not only violated the law but also subjected people to nuisance calls about personal injury claims. This sentence, though delayed by Mr Riches’ flight to the USA, demonstrates that justice will be pursued relentlessly.”
Curry also extended thanks to Enterprise Rent-A-Car, commending the company for promptly reporting the breach and supporting the investigation. “Their vigilance and cooperation were crucial in bringing this matter to a successful conclusion,” he said.
The case highlights the serious consequences of data breaches and the lengths to which authorities will go to bring offenders to justice, regardless of the time it takes.
Crime
Arrest after fatal Carmarthenshire hit-and-run
A MAN has been arrested following a fatal hit-and-run collision in Llanpumsaint, Carmarthenshire, on Monday (December 23), which claimed the life of 38-year-old Aaron Jones.
The incident happened near Caer Salem Baptist Chapel between 6:45pm and 7:45pm while Aaron was walking his dog. Police said the vehicle involved, a blue car with noticeable damage, was travelling northbound through the village at the time of the collision.
Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that the vehicle believed to have been involved has now been located, and a 27-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, failing to stop for a collision, and failing to report a collision.
Specially trained officers are supporting Aaron’s family, who have asked for privacy during this difficult time.
A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “We are appealing to anyone who may have seen the vehicle or has dashcam footage from the area during the relevant times to contact us immediately.”
The road remains closed while investigations continue, and residents can expect an increased police presence in the area.
Anyone with dashcam footage, doorbell camera recordings, or CCTV footage from the area is urged to check their recordings and contact Dyfed-Powys Police immediately using the details provided in the comments.
Crime
Repeat offender jailed for breaching Sexual Harm Prevention Order
A SERIAL offender who repeatedly defied a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) has been handed a three-year prison sentence following his latest breaches while living in Pembrokeshire.
Adrian John Thomas, 31, of no fixed abode, was originally made subject to a SHPO and notification requirements in 2017 after being convicted of offences involving a 14-year-old girl. Despite the restrictions imposed on him, Thomas has shown a persistent pattern of non-compliance.
The latest sentencing at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Dec 19) addressed four fresh breaches of the SHPO and one count of failing to meet notification requirements.
Following his release from prison in October 2023, Thomas initially registered at an approved address in Swansea. By January, he had moved to Pembrokeshire and declared himself as having no fixed address to the police.
However, it later emerged that he had moved in with his mother, who resides in sheltered housing, without notifying authorities of his change in circumstances—a direct violation of his notification requirements.
While living with his mother, Thomas took control of her iPhone, setting up a PIN and facial recognition lock without her consent. He then used the device to create multiple social media accounts, including Instagram, Gmail, and Facebook profiles, all in clear breach of his SHPO terms.
The court heard how Thomas’s actions left his mother feeling distressed and powerless in her own home.
Prosecutors revealed Thomas’s extensive criminal history, including eight previous convictions spanning 15 offences. Between February 2019 and October 2022 alone, he breached the SHPO 11 times and once failed to comply with notification requirements, resulting in multiple prison sentences.
In mitigation, the defence argued that Thomas had shown remorse and was struggling with his mental health. They claimed he had no viable housing options other than moving in with his mother or living in a tent.
Judge Paul Thomas KC delivered a stark assessment of the defendant’s repeated disregard for court orders.
“Your track record shows a persistent determination to flout the Sexual Harm Prevention Order placed on you after a serious child sexual offence conviction,” the judge said.
“You have breached this order and notification requirements time and time again. You misled the police about your living arrangements, manipulated your mother’s phone despite her pleas, and did so while on licence from a previous sentence.”
The judge concluded: “You seem entirely undeterred by the consequences of your actions.”
Thomas was sentenced to three years in prison, with a review of the SHPO’s duration scheduled for January.
Crime
Police hunt driver after dog walker killed in Carmarthenshire hit-and-run
A PEDESTRIAN walking his dog has died after being struck in a hit-and-run collision on a Carmarthenshire road on Monday (December 23).
The incident occurred in Llanpumsaint, near Caer Salem Baptist Chapel, between 6:45pm and 7:45pm.
The road remains closed, and police are urgently appealing for information to locate the driver of a blue vehicle believed to have fled the scene.
A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “We are actively searching for the driver of a blue vehicle with noticeable damage, which was involved in a fatal hit-and-run collision in Llanpumsaint, Carmarthenshire. The driver left the scene, and locating them is now our top priority.
“We are appealing directly to the driver to do the right thing and come forward. Additionally, we urge anyone who may have seen the vehicle or has dashcam footage from the area during the relevant times to contact us immediately.
“This collision, which tragically resulted in the death of a pedestrian, happened near Caer Salem Baptist Chapel between 6:45pm and 7:45pm on Monday, December 23, as the man was walking his dog.
“Our investigation indicates the vehicle was travelling northbound through Llanpumsaint at the time of the incident.”
The road is expected to remain closed for some time while enquiries continue. Police stress that any piece of information, no matter how small, could be crucial in identifying and locating the driver. Anyone with information is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police immediately using the details provided in the comments.
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