Four Sentenced in £350,000 Staged Burglary Insurance Fraud Case
Three people have been jailed and a fourth given a suspended sentence following a staged burglary in Southsea linked to a fraudulent insurance claim worth £350,000. The case, heard at Portsmouth Crown Court, related to a break-in reported in March 2022 at a property on Victoria Grove. Police later established that the burglary had been arranged by individuals connected to the address in an attempt to secure an insurance payout.
Dean Ryan, 42, of Pitcroft Road, received a four-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to burgle, conspiracy to commit fraud, and perverting the course of justice. Gary Cleeve, 45, of no fixed address, was sentenced to three years after being found guilty of conspiracy to burgle. Emma O’Shea, 46, of St Peters Road, Hayling Island, received a two-and-a-half-year sentence for conspiracy to commit fraud, perverting the course of justice, and attempted witness intimidation. Her mother, Sarah O’Shea, 70, of Dolman Road, Gosport, was given a six-month suspended sentence and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work for perverting the course of justice.
The court heard that Cleeve carried out the burglary while Ryan was at a different location with Emma O’Shea. Upon returning to the property, O’Shea discovered a window had been left open and, concerned this could invalidate the insurance claim, asked Ryan to break it to create the appearance of forced entry. During the investigation, O’Shea denied Ryan’s involvement. In July 2023, it emerged that she had travelled to Barbados during court proceedings after being served with a witness summons, an action arranged to avoid giving evidence. Ryan also communicated through Sarah O’Shea, who encouraged her daughter to remain abroad and delete phone communications. Emma O’Shea was arrested upon returning to the UK.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) reports that insurance fraud remains a persistent issue in the UK. In 2022, UK insurers detected over £1.1 billion worth of fraudulent claims and applications. While detected fraud volume has declined recently, individual case values have risen, with property and liability insurance being common targets. Insurers continue investing in fraud detection tools and collaborating with law enforcement and industry bodies to identify and prosecute offenders.
Investigating officer PC Kevin Parker of Hampshire Police stated that the case involved deliberate attempts to mislead investigators and claim funds under false pretenses. He emphasized the resource burden such cases place on police and encouraged the public to report suspicious activity related to burglary or fraud.
