Matthew Johnson, 42, from Misterton, has been sentenced to 28 months in prison after orchestrating a series of fraudulent insurance claims—some involving staged thefts of high-value LEGO sets. The case was exposed by the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) and concluded at Nottingham Crown Court.
Fake Claims Spanning Multiple Locations
Between May 2021 and January 2022, Johnson submitted multiple false burglary claims to AXA Insurance, alleging thefts from properties in Shetland and Goole. His claims listed premium items such as MacBooks, televisions, gaming consoles, fishing equipment, and large quantities of collectible LEGO.
Through four separate claims, Johnson successfully defrauded insurers of more than £14,000.
Insurers Spot Suspicious Paperwork
AXA Insurance raised the alarm after discovering inconsistencies in Johnson’s documentation. Investigators found repeated use of the same receipts, altered invoices, and paperwork that failed to match policy details. Further checks revealed some claimed items had not even been released for sale at the time they were supposedly stolen.
Detective Constable Richard Fox of IFED said Johnson created “an elaborate web of fake identities, forged documents and fictional thefts” to exploit the insurance system. He emphasized that insurance fraud ultimately drives up costs for honest customers.
Police Raid Uncovers Key Evidence
In June 2023, officers searched Johnson’s home in Misterton and discovered unopened LEGO sets matching items he had claimed were stolen—openly displayed in his living room. A second search of a converted shed uncovered an iMac containing forged invoices, insurance screenshots, and multiple fake identity documents.
Investigators also linked Johnson to insurance policies taken out under the alias “Gavin Beadle.” Despite using different addresses, the bank details tied the claims directly back to him. Both the Passport Office and DVLA confirmed the identification documents were counterfeit.
Johnson has now been ordered to repay the money he fraudulently obtained, with a confiscation timetable set by the court.
