Alleged bogus bus crash in Sheffield (June 2011)

telstarbox · 20 Aug 2013

Passengers were given compensation claim forms before they boarded a bus bound for a bogus crash, a court heard.

Sarah Drummond told Sheffield Crown Court her friend was handed two pieces of paper at City Claims 4U in Pitsmoor the business at the centre of a fraud trial before the pair got on the double decker.

First bus driver Adam Herbert drove the vehicle deliberately into the back of a car minutes later.

The bump led to 26 people making almost identical whiplash claims.

...

The trial continues.

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/crime/bogus-bus-crash-seemed-fake-1-5968019

RailUK Forums

Smethwickian · 20 Aug 2013

Would forum members please be aware (trust me, I'm a journalist) that comment and debate on 'live' court cases is fraught with potential legal pitfalls, which is why the news website article cited does not (at this moment) have comments enabled. Fair, accurate and contemporaneous reporting of court cases is (generally) exempt from defamation action; gossip and prejudicial conclusions are not.

pemma · 20 Aug 2013

Why did the passengers still catch the bus if they knew the driver was going to crash it before they boarded?

185 · 20 Aug 2013

I don't see how that should stifle debate. Most newspapers (ie businesses) don't allow comments on live cases at their insurers / solicitors request. Unless someone is involved in the judiciary, jury, prosecution or defence I seriously doubt action could arise from a public forum, unless an extremely defamatory, misleading or inaccurate set of facts were posted.

That said, FirstGroup's solicitors, Ford & Warren, have demanded my Facebook profile closed. Twice. And failed

telstarbox · 20 Aug 2013

Post edited for avoidance of doubt.

TheGrandWazoo · 20 Aug 2013

185 said:
I seriously doubt action could arise from a public forum, unless an extremely defamatory, misleading or inaccurate set of facts were posted.

And that is the crux of it. You (and most other posters) are doubtless sensible enough to moderate your views.

However, there may be the odd soul who can't help indulging in speculation. So, best be on our best behaviour. Oh, and just putting "allegedly" at the end of a sentence isn't a defence either

swj99 · 20 Aug 2013

185 said:
I seriously doubt action could arise from a public forum, unless an extremely defamatory, misleading or inaccurate set of facts were posted.

It probably wouldn't happen except in an extreme case. But it could happen, under the rules relating to contempt of court, if a court decided that what had been posted may have prejudiced the defendant's chances of a fair trial. For example, in the case of Levi Bellfield, one of the cases against him had to be dropped due to reporting of the case before the trial had finished.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contempt_of_court

Under the Contempt of Court Act 1981 it is criminal contempt of court to publish anything which creates a real risk that the course of justice in proceedings may be seriously impaired. It only applies where proceedings are active....

Mystic Force · 20 Aug 2013

Your alternative is the media frenzy they have in my current home of the US. In the uk you are not limited to what you can say just when you can say it.

Flying Snail · 21 Aug 2013

Mystic Force said:
Your alternative is the media frenzy they have in my current home of the US. In the uk you are not limited to what you can say just when you can say it.

As bad as the UK tabloid journalists are they have nothing on some of the US TV "reporters", Nancy Grace and the like who apparently have free reign to conduct their own witch-hunts, trials, judgements and in some case even manage to carry out their own punishments on their victims. Truly repugnant.

I am no fan of the British (or Irish which is very similar) justice system but in this regard it is mostly correct. Superinjunctions on the other hand... :roll:

Not a bogus crash but some years ago after a well publicised bus crash here over 200 claims for compensation were received from supposed passengers on what by all accounts was a busy but far from full double decker.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

185 said:
That said, FirstGroup's solicitors, Ford & Warren, have demanded my Facebook profile closed. Twice. And failed

Glad to see that faced with a debt mountain of their own making First are concentrating their resources where it really counts. :lol:

34D · 21 Aug 2013

jcollins said:
Why did the passengers still catch the bus if they knew the driver was going to crash it before they boarded?

One would presume because they were likely to receive thousands of pounds worth of compensation.

Xenophon PCDGS · 21 Aug 2013

Whilst there have been a number of well-reported cases of criminal fraudulant activity that have led to court cases, these have always involved private road vehicles to the best of my knowledge.

Is this the first case in Britain of the driver of a public service vehicle being a prime member in such a case ?

overthewater · 21 Aug 2013

Radio two are talking about concept mainly dealing with coaches etc from noon.

Alleged bogus bus crash in Sheffield (June 2011)

telstarbox

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pemma

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185

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telstarbox

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swj99

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overthewater

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