Thomas Cook court victories give industry encouragement

Thomas Cook is prepared to bring fresh fraud prosecutions against holidaymakers in the fight against fake illness claims.

The company won a landmark private prosecution for fraud in Liverpool Crown Court last October, when couple Deborah Briton and Paul Roberts were jailed after bringing a £20,000 claim for sickness on consecutive Cook holidays in Majorca in 2015 and 2016. The couple were charged with eight counts of fraud.

Thomas Cook senior legal counsel for litigation Rebecca White said: “The decision to prosecute wasn’t one we took lightly. But we thought we had to do something significant, that would have an impact and a deterrent effect. To do that you need to pick your case carefully.

“Roberts and Briton were repeat visitors to the hotel. They were known to staff. They brought claims for themselves and their children arising from two holidays. [Yet] there was social media evidence that they had had a wonderful holiday. The surprise was they didn’t admit their guilt at the first opportunity. That did them no favours.”

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