Taxi driver claimed his dog died chasing a seagull but it was all an elaborate liehttps://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/li ... d-34472049
A taxi driver falsely claimed his dog had died while chasing a seagull during an elaborate campaign of fraud. Robert Cretu took out dozens of insurance policies for pets that never even existed.
The conman, who was apparently suffering from financial difficulties due to his taxi repeatedly breaking down, then claimed these fictional dogs had been killed in tragic accidents. This saw him invent tales in which one had apparently jumped into the sea from Blackpool Pier, while another was supposedly stuck by a lorry during a trip to the Lake District.
Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Monday August 18, that Cretu made a total of 30 false claims to five different insurers relating to fictitious dogs supposedly being killed, "usually by being hit by a car". The 40-year-old, of Lapwing Road in Kirkby, submitted false documents and veterinary notes as part of this scam, which persisted between December 2023 and August 2025 and saw him pocket a total of £31,700.
Sarah Egan, prosecuting, described how Cretu took out the majority of these insurance policies in fake names, with the payments also being made into bank accounts under the names of others. Eight of these claims were made to Pinnacle Pets UK, including one which saw him paid £1,100 in March 2024 after alleging a dog called Lola had died after being hit by a lorry in the Lake District.
Cretu also falsely reported to several of the insurers that another pet, named Leo, had fallen into the sea from Blackpool Pier while chasing a seagull. However, some did not result in payment after suspicions were raised over fraudulent activity, while other claims were not ultimately completed or deemed invalid.
One, in relation to an apparently deceased Doberman, was meanwhile rejected due to "excessive costs" and a lack of confirmation that a supposed subsequent cremation had actually taken place. Cretu, who has no previous convictions, confessed to his crimes when interviewed by detectives and "said the money had been spent on family finances".
Sarah Griffin, defending, told the court: "He is the sole bread winner. He stopped working as a factory supervisor and had very low income from his delivery jobs. He bought a taxi and says that the taxi broke down multiple times. It sounds as though it has been a combination of factors.
"He is still in work. He has remained out of trouble since September of 2025. There is clearly a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. He is an otherwise hard working man. He was a factory supervisor for many years and is now a taxi driver.
"Importantly, he is the sole provider for his family. His partner is not in work, but has a 10-year-old child. The defendant plays a full role as a father figure. He is very involved in the 10-year-old's life. He is very concerned about the impact both on his partner and his partner's child.
"The house is mortgaged in his partner's name, but he is the sole income. He is concerned that his partner and son may lose their home. He intends to pay the relevant insurers back from his income."
Cretu admitted five counts of fraud by false representation. Appearing in the dock wearing a khaki green long sleeved shirt, he was handed a 20-month imprisonment suspended for 18 months with a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days.
Sentencing, Judge Gary Woodhall said: "You made multiple applications to those insurers. You essentially obtained fraudulent insurance policies from the outset, either with false details or in your own name.
"Those insurance companies and the insurance business generally has to invest heavily to try to stop the sort of things that you did. That increases fees for everybody else.
"You are of previous good character. You were born in Romania and were provided settled status in this country in 2019. You say that you were struggling financially. You have expressed remorse.
"There is some detail provided suggesting that your employment was the cause of your offending due to debt you had incurred. Your dates do not stack up, as far as that is concerned. You started working as a taxi driver in October 2024, and this offending started almost 12 months earlier.
"You have given differing accounts how the money been spent, whether on your taxi or on family finances. You now say that it is all of the above. Your account appears to be inconsistent and a way to explain away your repeated and prolonged activity. The total actual loss is £31,700. Further claims were unsuccessful. Your intended loss was greater than that which was actually sustained.
"I am just about persuaded that your remorse, the admissions from the outset and the fact there has been no further offending may well allow for a conclusion that there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation in the community. Immediately custody will also substantially effect others.
"You do not present a risk to anyone else. The real question I have had to grapple with is whether this is a case where appropriate punishment can only be achieved by an immediate custodial sentence.
"Bearing in mind the period over which this occurred and the number of individual offences, those are factors that would indicate this is a case where appropriate punishment can only be achieved by an immediate custodial sentence.
"On balance, given the potential impact on others and the loss of employment that would flow from an immediate custodial sentence, I am just persuaded that this is a case where it is appropriate to suspend this sentence of imprisonment."
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