The plot to defraud the insurance giant was concocted by three men from the west country, Edwin White 65, Nicholas Ralph, 67, and Clive Moore, 51.

Two of the men deliberately staged a collision between two cars, including an Aston Martin that they falsely stated was worth around £60,000, and went on to submit claims on insurance.

Inconsistencies between the trio’s accounts of the collision and the damage to the cars raised alarm bells with LV= and Direct Line Group, the companies that insured each car, and the case was referred to the City of London Police’s insurance fraud enforcement department (IFED) for investigation.

On the day of the fake accident on 4 May 2018, a Peugeot 208 driven by Ralph collided with an Aston Martin DB9, driven by White.