A family of three could be imprisoned for six years if they’re found guilty of fraud after lodging supposedly fake holiday sickness claims.

A Daily Star report identified the three as Deborah Briton, her partner Paul Roberts, and her daughter Charlene of Merseyside. Their food poisoning claims reportedly amounted to £52,000.

In what was described as a sophisticated fraud, the family tried to get the payouts from travel operator Thomas Cook after an all-inclusive trip to Majorca. Tour operators in the Spanish island recently reported a 700% rise in cases of false complaints about stomach problems.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to six counts of fraud during the preliminary hearing said to be the first of its kind in the UK. A pre-trial hearing is set for August 10.

Meanwhile, Members of Parliament have asked the Civil Procedure Rule Committee to look into the rules governing holiday claims costs. Justice Secretary David Lidington believes a loophole is being exploited.

Claire Laver, counter fraud partner at law firm DAC Beachcroft, said claims management companies “preying” on British holidaymakers in Spain “offer them the opportunity, in essence, to recover the cost of their holiday by bringing a false claim for gastric illness.”


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