A FRAUDSTER who pocketed thousands of pounds by selling fake insurance policies has been jailed.

Bandagu Manzeke, of Church Lane, Hornsey, was sentenced at the Old Bailey on Wednesday to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years.

The 52-year-old, who pleaded guilty, will also have to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and pay £6,590 in compensation, in order to pay back the money he took.

He took more than £7,200 in commission payments by submitting 30 insurance policies using fake names, addresses and details when he was self-employed and Eunisure Insurance between July 2014 and March 2015.

Simon Styles, financial investigator at the insurance fraud enforcement department, said: “As an agent working for an insurance broker, Manzeke should have known better than to think this would go unnoticed.

“He tried to use his position to make a quick profit, but thanks to the diligence of Eunisure, the fraud was uncovered and he now has to pay back the money and carry out unpaid work.”

Eunisure investigated Manzeke after many of the policies he arranged were cancelled but he failed to pay back his commission money.

He said he would pay the company the full amount he owed but only returned £700.

Manzeke was then interviewed by officers from the insurance fraud enforcement department and summoned to court under the charge of fraud by abuse of position.

Ralph Mortlock, managing director at Eunisure said: “There is an extremely small minority of agents who think it is ok to operate in this way and submit false policies in order to profit from the commission fees.

“We felt it was important to take a stand in this case by referring it to IFED and send a strong message that there are serious consequences for any individuals looking to defraud insurers and brokers in this way.”