A Norwich professional loss adjuster has admitted defrauding £160,000 as part of a series of insurance scams.

Justin Boydell, 51, falsely set up bank accounts using the names of others, including dead relatives, in order to cream off tens of thousands for his own benefit.

Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told that his fraud had involved claims made to companies including Norwich-based insurers Aviva.

His scamming came to light during a split with his wife.

Boydell falsely set up bank accounts to scam insurers including Norwich-based AvivaBoydell falsely set up bank accounts to scam insurers including Norwich-based Aviva (Image: Newsquest)

She reported him to the police after discovering irregularities when she commissioned an independent check of his finances. 

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Hollie Davies-Regan, prosecuting, said his activities had been a “sophisticated fraud” using knowledge from a long career as a loss adjuster.

“These are high culpability offences that involved abuse of a position of trust and went on for a sustained period of time,” she added. 

Insurance companies appoint a loss adjuster to help assess large or complex claims – usually when the claim is above a certain value. 

As a supposed impartial party in the claims process, their role is to establish whether the damage is covered by the insurance policy.

Justin Boydell will be sentenced at Norwich Crown CourtJustin Boydell will be sentenced at Norwich Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Boydell, who gave an address in court located in Bridgend, South Wales, pleaded guilty to seven charges of fraud by false representation.

He also admitted concealing, disguising or transferring criminal property. 

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The court was told he also admits a number of further financial offences to be taken into consideration and is likely to face more charges relating to the opening of bank accounts in his wife’s name. 

Ms Davies-Regan said it was estimated he had scammed between £140,000 and £160,000.

The fraud offences include £77,000 defrauded from Home and Legacy, a specialist high value insurance provider, and about £60,000 in offences against Aviva.

He will be sentenced at Norwich Crown Court on December 9 after magistrates said the amounts stolen meant their powers were insufficient.