Mum spared jail over ‘crash for cash’ scam

December 23, 2009

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Ettorina Hay leaving court

A MUM has escaped jail despite living the high life thanks to her boyfriend's £12m ‘crash for cash’ scam.

Ettorina Hay was handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence and ordered to carry out 300 hours unpaid work in the community.

The 29-year-old, of Kirkby Road, Bolton, who admitted money laundering, enjoyed a millionaire lifestyle thanks to the crimes committed by her boyfriend, Mohammed Patel.

He bought her a £15,000 Lincoln Navigator and a £15,000 Mercedes Kompressor.

Patel paid for her home to be furnished and gave her £1,000 a month spending money and her wardrobe was packed with designer clothes.

Earlier this year, Patel, 25, of Nottingham Drive, Bolton, was jailed for four-and-a-half years after he admitted conspiracy to defraud, seven counts of dangerous driving and three counts of driving while disqualified.

Duped

He duped innocent motorists by suddenly slamming on his brakes at roundabouts so cars would crash into the back of his car, nearly every day for three years.

He staged hundreds of collisions at the A34 Handforth bypass in Cheadle Hulme, outside the Trafford Centre and at Junction 10 on the M65 at Burnley.

After Patel was jailed, Judge Bernard Lever ordered a report into who would take care of Hay’s son if she was jailed.

Manchester Crown Court heard the alternatives would have been either for the boy to join his father, who he sees rarely, or be taken into care.

The court also heard Hay was being sentenced for fraud totalling £25,000 although she faces a future court hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act where it will be alleged she benefited by up to £46,000.

Sentencing Hay, Judge Lever told her: “If you were a single woman living on your own the likelihood is I would sentence you to 12 months in prison.

Factor

“I have to factor into my sentencing today that you have a child who hardly knows his father and he’s the only person who can look after the child or the child will be taken into care for six months.”

He added: “I also very much take into account that you in no way tried to play on the difficulties of your child to avoid a prison sentence. This is my decision and I must take responsibility for it. It’s not a case of a mother playing the child card.”

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Mike S, Manchester (23/12/2009 at 14:24)

It may not have been a case of "a mother playing the child card" to avoid a jail sentence, but it sure as hell sends a message to other female criminals awaiting trial to get pregnant quick to avoid a custodial sentence!

Persepolis Young (23/12/2009 at 14:30)

that's a handsome woman

Laura Norder, Didsbury (23/12/2009 at 14:34)

Some of the judges need locking up.

Stevedore, Quayside (23/12/2009 at 14:40)

The only way that anyone gets to go to prison nowdays is when they are playing monopoly; do not pass go, do not collect £200.

Knowledge Poverty, The Range (23/12/2009 at 14:43)

WHAT?

i'm not usually one for capitals but

TAKE THE CHILD AWAY FROM HER, GIVE THE CHILD A DECENT HOME AND FAMILY

AND THROW THAT WOMAN IN JAIL!!!!!!

NWmancCUB (23/12/2009 at 15:20)

C'mon Knowledge Poverty, why so surprised?? We live in "Great" aka Third World Britain, the laughing stock of the World!!

PCW, manchester (23/12/2009 at 15:39)

just makes you larf !

Squire of Newton, Newton nr. Hyde (23/12/2009 at 16:10)

I think its high time some of these doddering judges were put out to pasture, and the selection of new ones are vetted on their esteemed judgement, and merit, to pass a proper sentance on the criminal.
This sentance is so pathetic its just laughable.

C.Mababejive (23/12/2009 at 16:48)

Oh yes..the mothers blessing...a child. It has so many uses...

1) To blag benefits and new housing from the state
2)To ensure that you dont have to go out and earn a living
3) to badge it with some syndrome or other to get more benefits
4) to ensure you dont get locked away when that is clearly what you deserve
5)And to use as a weapon when you have tired of your husband/partner and decide to throw him out and drain him of all his assets.

moaning bugger, reddish (23/12/2009 at 17:02)

hmm i wonder if she will be my girlfriend if i buy her a couple of fancy cars and give her spending money every month.

Ivor Rash, Oldham (23/12/2009 at 18:22)

Hopefully, the police will use the Proceeds of Crime Act to deprive her of her expensive cars, clothes etc. But I doubt it. She's another one who's got away with it.

Just Wondering?, North Manchester (23/12/2009 at 20:03)

She was little better than a prostitute so her child would probably be better off in care. I wonder if she was claiming benefits whilst joining in the proceeds of crime? People like this are a disgrace to a decent society. The judge must be crackers!

Hamish Macbeth, Whitefield (24/12/2009 at 08:09)

""Oh yes..the mothers blessing...a child. It has so many uses... "" ... C.Mababejive ,

A mate of mine refers to such children as "Bargaining Chips". For some reason though in this age of equality such "chips" can only be held by women

Simishine, Manchester (24/12/2009 at 11:43)

Its no surprise that she was spared jail with these incompetant out of touch judges..... Roll on next May when hopefully the tories will change things.... Fingers crossed as it needs to change and put these kinds of people away in prison

charlie chan number 1 son, Hollywood (24/12/2009 at 12:50)

She hasn't lost her bottle though!

blizzard, derbyshire (26/12/2009 at 08:26)

Women never go to jail for anything these days even when they have committed exactly the same offence as many men. It just hardly ever happens. They even get away with child abuse, neglect, violent crimes.....the list is endless.

jeffb, buxton (26/12/2009 at 12:37)

What are the police and insurance companys doing allowing about 1000 accidents to happen without investigating them no wonder we have to pay a fortune for insurance, The Police and Insurance companys are guilty of complacency and aiding and abetting criminal offences.

Redberry, Manchester (28/12/2009 at 17:53)

Its disgraceful how criminals are using children to avoid prison sentences. This woman should have served an appropriate sentence. She was living the high life off the money her boyfriend stole off the insurance companies by deliberately causing accidents and putting law abiding honest citizens at risk of injury or death. As for her child it would be better off in care than living with a parent like her.
Having travelled abroad many times the perception in other countries is that the UK is a soft touch with gangs of criminals running riot with no regard for the police and courts. They also have the idea that many criminals from abroad have entered the UK by any means possible to jump on the " crime pays culture" that exist here. How right they are.

michael boyd (29/12/2009 at 15:27)

He will serve two at most - assuming it's his first offence. This is of course no deterrent to a 24 year old and is unlikely to achieve anything other than the opportunity to exchange ideas with other criminals. On this basis sentencing the woman would have be equally pointless (let alone the cost to the taxpayer). Making a direct comparison say between this country and China (I know this has it's limitations) where for example you can be executed for fraud not just murder or rape but even the severity of the law there doesn't stop criminal activity outright - although but it may just deter some people! Regrettably, people who engage in criminal activity at whatever level are not troubled with simple notions of right or wrong or good versus evil.

Local lad, outsidethebox (29/12/2009 at 16:05)

Lets show our children that crime really does pay? NO WONDER WE HAVE CHILDREN OUT OF CONTROL when we have idiot judges like we have in britain.We are the joke of the world and this is why we have criminals from every corner of the the globe wanting to get into britain.

salfordrat (30/12/2009 at 10:34)

"Its disgraceful how criminals are using children to avoid prison sentences."

Redberry, Manchester

Playing devils advocate here but.....did you actually read the story? The judge said that at no time had she tried to play on the fact that she had a child to avoid a custodial sentence. And how can you use your children to avoid jail? Are you suggesting that people think - I will have a child so that ne day in the future I can break the law and have less chance of getting sent down?

joe bloggs (27/01/2010 at 13:36)

pathetic.. how can they let her gat away with tis... 300hours community service only!!!!!!!! and the money she used to buy all the expensive stuff with fraud... this law of ours shocks me. amazing... some woen are lucky

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