A Letchworth man who was part of a ‘crash for cash’ scheme which conned insurance companies out of more than £120,000 has been found guilty of conspiracy to defraud today.

Rajesh Kurmi was found guilty in relation to a false damage and personal injury claim for a collision reported to have occurred in June 2013 between an Audi TT and an Aston Martin in Kent.

He had previously pleaded guilty to a further count of conspiracy to defraud.

The 39-year-old was convicted of making a false insurance claim – one of numerous claims made by a gang of eight people between July 2012 and March 2014, which related to road traffic collisions that either had not taken place at all, or were deliberately caused.

Mario Panico, 57, of Stotfold, was the organiser of the overall criminal scheme and pleaded guilty to six counts of conspiracy to defraud.

Two men from Baldock, a man from Hitchin, a man from Stevenage and a woman from Letchworth pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud, and another man from Baldock pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to defraud.

Det Con Ian Russell said: “This was a highly-organised, calculated and extensive conspiracy to defraud, and we are pleased the final part of this group has been found guilty.

“Fraud is not a victimless crime. We will continue to persistently pursue those we suspect of being involved in organised crime and continue to put them before the courts.”

The group of eight will be sentenced on March 11 2016.