LEGO Thief Locked Up! Matthew Johnson, 42, from Misterton, has been jailed for 28 months after trying to scam insurance firms with fake claims – including pretending valuable LEGO sets were stolen. The Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) smashed his racket at Nottingham Crown Court.
Johnson’s Crippling Claim Con
Between May 2021 and January 2022, Johnson filed multiple bogus claims with AXA Insurance. He claimed burglaries at homes in Shetland and Goole, reporting stolen high-end items like MacBooks, TVs, gaming consoles, fishing gear — and huge piles of collectible LEGO. His sham claims netted him over £14,000 from four separate payouts.
Cops Sniff Out The Insurance Scam
Detective Constable Richard Fox, IFED: “Johnson wove a tangled web of fake IDs, forged papers, and made-up thefts to fleece the insurance system. Thanks to AXA’s sharp eye and our relentless investigation, justice caught up with him. Insurance fraud hits honest customers hard. We’re committed to catching all offenders.”
AXA grew suspicious after spotting dodgy paperwork – repeated receipts and doctored invoices matching policy addresses. IFED confirmed these documents were faker than a £5 note. Some invoices even covered goods not sold at the time Johnson claimed they vanished.
Raid Reveals LEGO Loot and Fraud Files
In June 2023, police raided Johnson’s Misterton home. They found untouched LEGO sets on display exactly matching the “stolen” items he’d reported. In his converted shed, officers seized an iMac loaded with fake invoices, screenshots of insurance claims, and fake ID documents.
Further investigation uncovered Johnson also filed claims under the fake name Gavin Beadle, linking bogus thefts to various addresses, but with bank details tracing right back to him. The Passport Office and DVLA confirmed the supporting documents were all forgeries.
Johnson now faces a court order to repay the £14,000-plus he swindled from insurance firms. A cautionary tale for any would-be fraudsters trying to cash in on fakes.
