Family Jailed After Fake Holiday Food Poisoning Claims Exposed By Facebook
A family which fraudulently claimed their holiday was ruined by food poisoning has been jailed after snaps of them enjoying themselves in the pool were posted online via the social media platform Facebook.
Christopher Byng, 38, Barbara Byng, 64, Linda Lane,36, and Anthony Byng, 66, had submitted false gastric illness claims against Jet2holidays following an all-inclusive holiday ...
The family, all from Middlesbrough, claimed that they and two children they were travelling with had all suffered from various symptoms, ... and was as a result of food poisoning.
The family then issued court proceedings ... However, their holiday scam was soon exposed after pictures surfaced on social media of the family having a fantastic time in the resort’s pool and bar.
During the investigations, Jet2holidays and their law firm, Horwich Farrelly, discovered evidence which they said showed the claims were totally fabricated by the family. ...
The family was convicted of contempt of court and appeared Teesside Combined Court on Friday, Feb.26, after pleading guilty. Christopher, Barbara and Anthony Byng were all jailed for four months- Lane received a suspended sentence.
They must also pay a £20,000 interim payment in legal costs by March 26. When handing down his judgement, Judge Mark Gargan said that “false claims for holiday sickness are all too prevalent.” He added that these claims were “not merely a case of exaggeration” and were a “complete invention”.