A FURTHER 18 people denied conspiracy in an alleged “crash for cash” scam as they appeared before Newport Crown Court in the second day of hearings yesterday.

Defendants from across Gwent and Cardiff denied conspiracy to defraud, that between July 1, 2009 and December 31, 2011, they conspired with others to defraud companies involved in the insurance industry by making and submitting false claims. The charge alleges motor vehicles were recovered to the garage known as both St David’s Accident Repair Centre and Easifix, in Blackwood. The claims being false in that they contained false representation.

In October of last year, 86 people were charged as a result of Gwent Police’s Operation Dino, which spent two years investigating an alleged scheme involving “crashes for cash”, in which accidents were allegedly staged to defraud insurance companies. The 18 who pleaded not guilty yesterday were: David Morgan, 48, of Wheatley Place, Blackwood, William L Williams, 46 and Andrew Davies, 41, of Penylan Road, Blackwood, Bethan Davies, 23, of Clos Claerwen, Blackwood, Rebecca Philpotts, 28, of Sunny View, Blackwood, Emma Cooper, 36, of Claud Road, Caerphilly, Stephen Pegram, 48, of Peterstone, Wentlooge, Christopher Hayes, 26, of Wembley Road, Cardiff, Ceri Nicodemus, 37, of Neyland Close, Pontypridd, John Clarke, 63, of Heol Brychan, Bargoed, Deborah Simin, 43, of Heol Lewis, Cardiff, Kelly Simin, 35, of Johnston Road, Cardiff, Andrew J Carpenter, 46, of Bader Close, Cardiff, Douglas Alexander, 64, of Third Avenue, Caerphilly, Matthew Davies, 31, of Oliver Street, Pontypridd, Adam Fear, 25, of Tyfica Road, Pontypridd, Laura Powell, 26, of Fords Road, Blackwood and Gavin Pritchard, 34, of Church Street, Bargoed.

On Tuesday, 34 defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. More defendants are due to appear in court today. Judge Daniel Williams granted all defendants unconditional bail.