Solicitor sentenced in pothole fraud crackdown

The case was part of the council’s ongoing work to tackle fraud and protect vital public funds.

A solicitor has been sentenced following a council investigation into fraudulent pothole claim damage.

Alykhaan Nourani, of Manchester, was found guilty of four counts of fraud relating to false vehicle damage claims. He has been given an eight-month suspended sentence and ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work.
 

The case was part of the council’s ongoing work to tackle fraud and protect vital public funds.

It comes as the council has repaired more than 14,000 road defects in 12 months and is continuing its investment into improving the city’s roads, backed by a record £22 million government funding.

Nourani’s submitted fraudulent pothole damage claims in November 2019 and April 2021. The claims were linked to vehicle damage but were later found to be false following a full investigation by the council’s Corporate Fraud team.

The fraud was first identified by an internal Insurance Officer who noticed anomalies with an invoice Nourani provided in April 2021 from a local main dealership. A similar pattern was found with an earlier invoice from November 2019.

Nourani was found guilty by unanimous verdict at at Hanley Crown Court in February and was sentenced last week, Thursday 19 June to:

• eight months, suspended for two years
• 300 hours of unpaid work
• A six-month curfew between 7pm and 7am
• £30,000 in costs as well as the original £874 for the fraudulent invoice

The judge highlighted Nourani’s high level of culpability, stating that his role as a solicitor – regularly dealing with Personal Injury claims – was an aggravating factor. The probation officer also confirmed that Nourani showed no remorse for his actions.

Nourani has been referred to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Councillor Amjid Wazir OBE, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Let this be a clear warning – we will not tolerate fraud in this city. We have robust checks in place to protect taxpayers’ money and we will pursue fraudsters through the courts whenever necessary

“Fraudulent clams take money away from essential public services like improving our road network. We’ve worked tirelessly to repair more than 14,000 defects in the last 12 months and with £22 million of government investment, we are committed to doing even more.

“I’d like to thank the individuals and businesses who have assisted this investigation and provided vital evidence in court. Fraud will not be ignored in Stoke-on-Trent – we will always take strong action to protect the public purse.”