A Shipley man has been sentenced for posing as a ‘ghost broker’ by supplying invalid car insurance to people with a criminal background and disqualified drivers so they could move around the country unnoticed.

Michael Standing obtained 54 real insurance policies from RSA, but provided the insurer with false personal details to secure the policies.

The 26-year-old obtained these policies to convince police and highways authorities that they were legally insured drivers. However, the policies were invalid because misinformation had been given to the insurer. Standing made around £80 from each policy he supplied – a total of more than £4,000 – which he frittered away on drink and drugs.

The scam was exposed in January 2012 when RSA discovered all of the policies were linked to Standing’s home address in Wrose Road, Shipley. The insurer referred the case to the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED), which launched a criminal investigation.

The City of London Police unit identified that the policies were linked to Standing’s bank accounts.

Standing was subsequently charged with four counts of fraud by false representation and possession of class B controlled drugs.

In August 2013, at City of London Magistrates’ Court, Standing was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £250 for possession of class B controlled drugs. Standing later appeared at the Old Bailey where he admitted four counts of fraud by false representation.

Yesterday, Standing was given a 15 month jail term suspended for two years and a 12 month supervision order.