TWO men who staged a “ham-fisted” crash for cash accident at Oxenhope between two cars in full public view have been spared immediate prison sentences.

Sam Borbely and Luke Gaughan hatched the “stupid” plot to dishonestly claim £7,000 in repairs, Bradford Crown Court heard.

The 25-year-olds each pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud insurance companies by faking the accident, between Gaughan’s white Vauxhall Corsa and Borbely’s Peugeot, at Black Moor Road’s junction with Denholme Road, Oxenhope, on November 14, 2014.

Borbely, of Thornaby Drive, Clayton, also admitted dangerous driving while on bail by overtaking on a blind bend, crashing head-on into a young mother with her baby in the car, on Keighley Road, Bingley, last November.

Prosecutor Martin Robertshaw said Gaughan, of Cockin Lane, Clayton, paid Borbely £500 to write off the Peugeot. He planned to claim £7,000 for repairs to his car that had been previously damaged.

A suspicious witness saw the men conversing before the Corsa reversed into the Peugeot. Police attended and both men admitted staging the accident. They were warned against making insurance claims.

Borbely scrapped his vehicle, saying the crash was his fault, and Gaughan’s insurer lent him a car.

The scam was revealed when City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud experts began an investigation.

Although Gaughan’s car was not repaired, Aviva had lost £420 and Insure The Box £861. Judge David Hatton QC said it had been a “ham-fisted” attempt. Gaughan’s solicitor advocate, Ray Singh said it was “bungled” and the “height of stupidity”.

John Bottomley, for Borbely, said it was the work of “two foolish young men.” Both men were given four months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. Gaughan must pay £1,280 compensation to the insurance companies. Borbely received a consecutive eight month suspended jail sentence for dangerous driving with a 12-month driving ban.