Couple outed by Sun for £58k in bogus holiday sick claims face three years jail
Leon Roberts and Jade Muzoka claimed they were bedridden with vomiting and diarrhoea just to claim cash
A FITNESS-mad couple outed by The Sun for making bogus holiday sickness claims totalling £58,000 are facing up to three years in jail.
Beefcake Leon Roberts and bodybuilder Jade Muzoka coughed to fiddling compo bids following a package holiday.
They claimed they were bedridden with vomiting and diarrhoea and sued the hotel and tour operators Thomson, now known as TUI.
However, we told how just days after returning home they uploaded 79 snaps on Facebook and boasted of their sunshine break.
They posed for boozy selfies around the poolside, gorged on steak and sushi dinners and enjoyed daytrips together at sea.
On Thursday they pleaded guilty to fraud - becoming only the second ever couple to be prosecuted over making false holiday sickness claims.
Muzoka, who posed for selfies outside of the courthouse, sat motionless in the dock while Roberts became animated when they were warned they face being locked up.
Tim Hunter, representing TUI, told Southern Derby Magistrates’ Court: “Both defendants enjoyed a holiday at the Cornelia Golf Resort and Spa in Turkey in July 2015.
“The week went without incident and neither of them complained about any adverse medical conditions at the time.Indeed from what is on social media they both enjoyed their holiday without any issues.
“But after their return they made a claim for damages, claiming that they had suffered an illness, their documents included a doctor’s report. That claim was false.”
He said the figures had been assessed per person as general damages £1,800, loss of enjoyment £600, potential refund £600, solicitor’s costs £16,000, TUI’s costs dealing with the case £10,000.
That brings the total to £29,000 each for Roberts and Muzoka - making the combined bill £58,000.
The couple stayed at the luxury Cornelia Deluxe complex in Turkey, listed as “occupying an enviable beachfront position set among its own expansive gardens” online.
It has four pools, waterslides and 27-hole championship golf course designed by legend Nick Faldo and six restaurants.
Roberts whinged to magistrates neither of them had been able to get legal representation because of the Christmas holidays since their last appearance in November.
He said he and Muzoka had been refused Legal Aid.
Muzoka told the magistrates: “We both were ill on the holiday. I had stomach cramps and vomiting. I can vividly remember projectile vomiting in the bathroom. In regards to social media, it’s not a true representation of how the holiday went. We weren’t going to put pictures up of ourselves being poorly.”
She said shortly after their return they were approached by a man who asked if they had been ill while they were away.
She added: “I said yes and he said he would sort out the rest. I did not really see it was an issue.He told me what to write on the papers, he encouraged us and said what we should claim. Alarm bells started ringing.”
Roberts added: “We were encouraged to lie and exaggerate the extent of our illness. We were ill for a couple of days. But he put everything down on the papers and photocopied all the documents.
“We admit we exaggerated how ill we were, but he was getting some sort of commission for dealing with our claims.”
The case was adjourned for sentencing for both defendants, who are no longer a couple, to seek legal advice.Following the case, Nick Longman, managing director of TUI, told The Sun: “This case demonstrates our commitment to fighting against the issue of fraudulent gastric illness claims.
"Leon Roberts and Jade Muzoka have each pleaded guilty to fraud and we await sentencing. This prosecution and its consequences should serve as a very real warning for anyone considering making a fraudulent or exaggerated holiday sickness claim.”
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Last year The Sun told how some British tour operators had seen bogus holiday sickness claims rise a staggering 1,400 per cent since 2013.
The country’s biggest operators said package holidays were under threat as many Mediterranean resorts looked to ban all British holidaymakers to combat spiralling payouts.
Last October Paul Roberts and Deborah Briton, of Liverpool, became the first people to be prosecuted for fake holiday claims and were jailed for 15 and nine months respectively.