Boxer-Turned-Fraudster Hamid Sediqi Jailed for Insurance Scam
A notorious boxer known by multiple aliases, including Kevin Heartbreak, has been slammed with a hefty jail term after masterminding a string of insurance frauds. Hamid Sediqi, 36, along with his partners-in-crime, orchestrated over 60 bogus motor insurance claims, duping solicitors and insurers out of nearly a quarter of a million pounds.
Luxury Lifestyle Built on Fraudulent Claims
The City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) uncovered how Sediqi cloned a genuine claims management company to rake in referral fees from unsuspecting solicitors. Together with ex-partner Belma Draganovic and Mason Smith, a former boxer and reality TV contestant, they used the dirty money to fund a lavish life. This included a penthouse in Gran Canaria and a standout bright pink Mazda RX7 – dubbed #F1RX7 online – seized and auctioned off by police.
Photos found on Sediqi’s phone revealed the couple’s flashy spending, showing his pet dog draped in stacks of cash. The trio’s greed eventually caught up with them.
Sentences Handed Down at Inner London Crown Court
- Hamid Sediqi – Four years behind bars.
- Belma Draganovic – Eleven months jailed, suspended for 18 months.
- Mason Smith – Three-month tagged curfew.
Sediqi also faces a Serious Crime Prevention Order (SCPO) which could impose strict restrictions to halt any future dodgy dealings. Breaching this order carries up to five years in jail and a hefty unlimited fine. The court will decide on the SCPO later this year.
How the Scam Worked
Sediqi posed as the director of a genuine claims company, tricking solicitors into paying referral fees for false personal injury claims. From 2014, he received more than £26,000 just from referral fees. The group then inflated fraudulent motor insurance claims worth nearly £200,000.
They set up fake insurance policies with Aviva using stolen or fake identities. One member would claim a staged crash on the phone, while another posed as the victim. They even submitted doctored photos found online to back their lies.
Police swooped on Sediqi’s Hanwell shop, where he was caught hiding under a desk. Searches uncovered piles of cash, designer goods, and damning text messages exposing the fraud.
Industry Response: Fraudsters Beware
Carl Mather, Aviva’s Special Investigations Unit Manager, said: “Kevin Heartbreak was first caught 10 years ago and jailed for fraud. This latest scam shows why deeper reforms on whiplash claims are crucial. Fraud drives up costs and premiums for honest customers. Despite thinking he was untouchable, Sediqi’s crimes were uncovered swiftly and we’ll keep fighting fraudsters wherever they lurk.”
The Proceeds of Crime Act is now in motion to reclaim funds stolen by the trio. Thanks to vigilant victims, public help, and government agencies like HM Passport Office, justice has finally caught up with these fraudsters.
