Fraudster Swindles £45k BMW Using Fake Name
Christopher Hudson, 44, from Bromley, has been slapped with a 15-month suspended jail sentence after cheating a car dealer out of a brand-new £45,000 BMW. Posing as “Jeremy Trodwell,” Hudson snapped up a 320i M-Sport, then stopped paying just two months in.
Disappears with BMW, Spins Covid Lie
Hudson vanished for five months before claiming he’d been hospitalised with Covid-19. He promised to catch up with payments once discharged, but never did. The finance company pulled the plug and ordered the luxury motor to be repossessed.
When officials went to retrieve the BMW from Hudson’s registered address in Hampton, Peterborough, it was gone. The car and fraudster were eventually caught at Gatwick Airport in August 2022. Hudson initially played dumb, saying the BMW belonged to his friend “Jeremy Trodwell” — the fake name he’d used.
Fraud Admission and Court Sentence
Lacking ID and insurance proof, Hudson finally admitted his deception. He pled guilty to fraud, confessing he never intended to pay for the car. The court ruled 15 months in prison, suspended for two years, plus 100 hours of unpaid work and over £1,000 in costs and victim surcharges.
Police Slam Hudson’s “Disgraceful” Fraud
“It’s clear Hudson never meant to pay for the vehicle,” said PC Christopher Ogden of Cambridgeshire Police. “He used a false name, fake address, and a Covid excuse to dodge payments. His behaviour has cost the finance company thousands and insulted honest citizens who live within their means. If you can’t afford a brand-new BMW, you can’t have one.”
Authorities vow to crack down hard on financial fraud, ensuring justice for victims and protecting honest taxpayers.
