A family that had fraudulently claimed their holiday was ruined by food poisoning has been jailed after snaps of them enjoying themselves in the pool were posted online.
Christopher Byng, 38, Barbara Byng, 64, Linda Lane,36, and Anthony Byng, 66, claimed to have suffered with gastric illnesses and filed a report against Jet2holidays following an all-inclusive stay at the Paradise Lago Taurito & Waterpark, Gran Canaria in November 2016.
The family, who live in Middlesbrough, have been sentenced to four months in prison after being convicted of, and pleading guilty to, contempt of court at Teesside Combined Court on Friday (26 February).
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Christopher, Barbara and Anthony Byng all received immediate custodial sentences, with Linda Lane receiving a suspended sentence. They must also pay a £20,000 interim payment in legal costs by 26 March.
After conspiring to issue the fraudulent compensation claims and admitting them to Jet2, the family could have resulted in them getting a pay-out of tens of thousands of pounds, including solicitor costs. Luckily (for Jet2), pictures of them all having fun were posted on Facebook.
The four claimed that they, and the two children they were travelling with, had all suffered with various symptoms, including stomach cramps, sickness, diarrhoea, headaches and hot and cold sweats, as a result of food poisoning.
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But the pictures and videos showed quite the opposite. The family were using the waterslide, swimming in the pool and drinking in the bar. There was no mention or sign of any illness was made, despite the severe symptoms they claimed to have been suffering at the time. This, in turn, proved that the reports were fabricated.
In addition to this, Jet2 sent a survey to the family on their return from holiday that Christopher Byng completed. When asked how satisfied he was with the holiday he stated he was, 'Very satisfied,' with the choice, cleanliness and quality of meals the hotel offered, despite the allegations he subsequently made.
He was also specifically asked whether anyone had been unwell on the holiday, but he chose not to answer this. However, answering the question 'Thinking about the future, how likely are you to book with Jet2holidays again in the next 12 months?' he responded 'Very likely'. This was despite the allegation that his 'holiday was ruined as a result of the illness.'
When handing down his Judgment, His Honour Judge Mark Gargan commented that 'false claims for holiday sickness are all too prevalent.' He also stated that these claims were 'not merely a case of exaggeration' and were a 'complete invention'.
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Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2holidays, said: "We have led the way when it comes to tackling the issue of fake sickness claims, and we continue to do so.
"Issuing a false claim for compensation is fraud, plain and simple, and we have been at pains to warn people that there are serious consequences if they choose to do so. Today's ruling is the latest illustration of that, and it sends out a very stark message. We will not hesitate to take action against fraudsters, and the courts will not hesitate to punish them."