Notts local and former Miss England beauty jailed after fake insurance claim

A Notts local and Ex-­Miss England contestant has been jailed after  a bucking bronco pic revealed her £3000 whiplash claim was a fake.

Former Nottingham Forest and Birmingham City player Amy Laban was jailed for two months after falsely claiming she suffered whiplash due to a car collision in the centre of Birmingham.

The 25-year-old former model and football star from Nottingham attempted to pursue a huge personal injury claim of £3000 from her insurance company Esure after suggesting her crash had left her with restricted mobility.

But, posts on social media showed she still continued to play football and even ride a bucking bronco.

Amy was rumbled by this post

She was rumbled when she uploaded a picture of herself to Twitter on the ride just days after the accident.

Amy also tweeted about an upcoming skydive and finishing the season playing for Birmingham City.

An investigation was launched into her claim ­after she missed numerous medical appointments and Esure’s ­lawyers then asked the High Court to dismiss her claims.

Amy claimed the crash in Birmingham left her with limited mobility

The High Court agreed to dismiss Laban’s claims, but shortly after decided to open a contempt hearing.

Amy and her friend, Laura Hazeldine, pleaded guilty to wasting court time and resources, and were sentenced to two months jail time.

Laban defended herself by saying numerous legal firms encouraged her into making a personal injury claim, however she admitted she was “vulnerable” and “stupid”.

Investigators used social media posts as evidence

Laban also believes she was “taken advantage of by claims companies”, while Hazeldine now admits she “stupidly and naïvely” went along with it.

Judge Godsmark ­ who lead the contempt hearing and charged the girls said: “the claim was fraudulent right from the start”.

Chief Operating Officer of Esure, David Pitt, said the fraudulent claim should “serve as a warning” to anyone debating exaggerating or falsifying future claims.

Amy is former miss England competitor Credit:Twiiter/com/@amylaban

After the case, Esure’s lawyer Ronan McCann said to the Daily Mail: “Ms Laban had everything going for her, as a successful model and sports-person, and had recently started a career as a PE teacher.

“Yet, like many people, she was seduced by a claims firm and found herself striding down the runway towards the destruction of her reputation.

“This case clearly illustrates just how easy it is to get sucked into making false claims. 

“Sad though this is for the individuals concerned, the sentences showinsurance fraud will not be tolerated by the courts or insurers.”