Couple who faked food poisoning on Thomas Cook holiday in bid to land £50k compensation are JAILED in landmark case
Deborah Briton, 53, and partner Paul Roberts, 43, were caught out after boasting on social media that their holidays were full of 'sun, laughter and fun'
A COUPLE who faked food poisoning on a Thomas Cook holiday in a bid to land £50,000 compensation have been jailed in a landmark case.
Liverpool Crown Court heard Deborah Briton, 53, and partner Paul Roberts, 43, tried to claim the payout by stating they and their two children had fallen ill on holidays to Majorca in 2015 and 2016.
But the couple's social media showed posts where they boasted of holidays full of "sun, laughter and fun".
Briton sobbed as she was sentenced to nine months in prison after admitting four counts of fraud in the private prosecution, brought by holiday company Thomas Cook.
Roberts, who was sentenced to 15 months after admitting the same offences, cried and shook in the court throughout the hearing on Friday.
Family members, including Briton's daughter Charlene, who had initially been charged with two counts of fraud which were later dropped, shouted out in court as the couple were sent down.
The court heard the couple, from Wallasey, Wirral, tried to claim nearly £20,000 for the fake gastric illnesses and would have also cost the holiday firm a further £28,000 in legal expenses had their claims been successful.
Sentencing, Judge David Aubrey QC said their claims had been a "complete and utter sham";.
He said: "They were bogus from start to finish, you were both asserting on your behalfs and on behalf of your two children that on two separate holidays you had suffered illness.
"They were totally and utterly fake."
He said the claims, made in August last year, must have required planning and premeditation.
He said: "Why? Pure greed. Seeking to get something for nothing."
Judge Aubrey also warned that any others bringing similar false claims in the future must expect to also face a jail term.
Sam Brown, prosecuting, said the couple had holidayed at the Globales America hotel in Majorca with their two children for two years in a row.
After the holiday in June 2015 Briton had written on social media: "Safely home after two weeks of sun, laughter, fun and tears. Met up with all our lovely holiday friends who made our holiday fab."
But a month after returning from a second holiday there in 2016 they contacted David Norman Solicitors to make the claims.
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Charles Lander, defending Roberts, said: "It was an idea the defendant formed from speaking to others in a pub.”
Lloyd Morgan, defending Briton, said: "She recognises the dishonour and disgrace she has brought not only to herself but to family and friends."
A Thomas Cook spokesman said: "The sentences handed down today demonstrates how serious the issue of fraudulent illness claims has become.
"This is a particularly sobering case but reflects what is going on across the UK travel industry, so we had to take a stand to protect our holidays and our customers from the minority who cheat the system."
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