A COLLISION specialist in the ‘crash for cash’ plot trial told a court that he could see no reason why front airbags deployed when a BMW was allegedly hit from the side in an accident.

PC Chris Goddard, senior collision investigator with Gwent Police, was giving evidence at Cardiff Crown Court where five members of the Yandell family are on trial for conspiring to defraud.

The prosecution claim that the family were involved in staging 28 crashes to claim compensation fraudulently from their insurance companies.

PC Goddard told the jury yesterday (WED) that he could not see a reason why the front airbags of a BMW had deployed after it was allegedly involved in a crash with a Land Rover on July 26, 2011 in Pentwyn Avenue in Blackwood.

He said he believed there was a “static impact as far as the BMW is concerned” as there was a “very well defined press mark”.

He added: “There are absolutely no horizontal marks, scratches or any signs that there is any movement between whatever cause the damage and the BMW itself.”

On Tuesday, the jury were shown CCTV footage of the Land Rover, allegedly involved in this crash, on July 28, 2011 being hit by five men in the back lot of Easifix, a garage run by the Yandell family in Pengam.

The footage also showed the Land Rover being driven into a forklift truck.

PC Goddard said he had not seen any of the footage at the time he carried out his crime reconstruction reports.

Byron Yandell, 31, and his wife Rachel Yandell, 30, both of Queen’s Road, New Tredegar; his parents Peter Yandell, 52, and Michelle Yandell, 51, both of Wheatley Place, Blackwood; and Gavin Yandell, 29, of Clos Claerwen, Blackwood, face a total of 28 counts relating to car accidents they claim took place between 2009 and 2011.

PC Goddard was asked to comment on another crash which allegedly took place on July 22, 2011 on the A469, Llanbradach Bypass between a red Audi A4 and a silver Audi A3.

PC Goddard only had photographs of the Audi A4 available to him and had been told it was stationary when the A3 collided with it.

He said: “It’s put dirt and dust on the vehicle as a result of the impact. I just get the impression it was a dirty, rusty object or vehicle that caused the damage.

“It’s always very difficult without the other vehicle, it certainly looks as if there’s been two impacts with the rear of the Audi because of the two different direction of the markings”.

PC Goddard was also asked if he had seen any CCTV footage of the Audi at Easifix, which he said he had not.

Proceeding.