A TOTAL of 14 defendants accused of being part of a "crash for crash" scam pleaded their innocence before Cardiff Crown Court yesterday .

In October of last year, 86 people were charged as a result of Gwent Police's Operation Dino, which spent two years investi-gating an alleged 'crash for cash' scheme, where accidents are staged to defraud insurance companies.

It is alleged such a scam operated out of a Blackwood garage known as both St David's Accident Repair Centre and Easifix, in Pengam.

Fourteen people appeared yesterday to plead not guilty to conspiracy to defraud insurance companies by false claims, in a period spanning July 1, 2009 to December 31, 2011.

They were: Nicola Cook, 40, of Alexandra Road, Hengoed; Christine Symonds, 47, of Frost Place, Blackwood; Allan Williams, 52, of Aeron Place, Bargoed; John Clarke, 63, of Heol Brychan; Deborah Simin, 44, of Heol Lewis, Cardiff; Kelly Simin, 36, of Johnston Road, Cardiff; Andrew Carpenter, 46, of Bader Close, Cardiff; Douglas Alexander, 65, of Third Avenue, Caerphilly; Gavin Pritchard, 35, of Church Street, Bargoed; Christopher Hayes, 27, of Wembley Road, Cardiff; Ross Mazurczak, 33, of Church street, Bargoed; Dean Veall, 30, of Crane House, London; Arka-diusz Aulejtner, 37, of Hillside, Bargoed, and Richard Knight, 41, of Abernant Road, Blackwood.

Judge Daniel Williams granted all the defendants unconditional bail. A trial date has not yet been set.

Proceeding.