A man who manipulated women he met online into taking part in staged car crashes has been jailed for 20 months at Bournemouth Crown Court.
Nathan Atkins (pictured), 46, of Redwood Drive, Ferndown, Dorset, was described by investigators as “predatory in his approach” after orchestrating a series of deliberate collisions beginning in June 2020. He used multiple aliases, including Philip Realon, Paul Jester, Paul Wilkes, and Tony Richards, to conceal his identity and build trust with his victims.
It was noted that Atkins targeted women via dating websites, persuading them to follow scripted scenarios and take part in planned collisions at specific locations. He bought at least seven vehicles from car auctions to facilitate the fraud, using them in crashes designed to generate false insurance claims.
The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) identified 16 fraudulent claims linked to Atkins, the earliest involving the alias Philip Realon and Atkins’ then-partner, resulting in a payout of £1,831.50. Private investigators acting for the insurer found that no-one could verify Realon’s existence, prompting the wider investigation.
“This was a calculated and deeply manipulative scheme. Atkins preyed on vulnerable women, using them as pawns in staged collisions that could have ended in tragedy. It’s nothing short of a miracle that no-one was seriously injured - or worse, killed,” said Detective constable Carley Parodi, from the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED).
“We urge anyone who thinks they’ve been targeted in a similar way to come forward and make a report to Action Fraud. Nathan Atkins is a dangerous individual, and we hope he now understands the gravity of his actions.”
“We are appalled by Atkins’ actions. By exploiting vulnerable women he met on dating sites, he encouraged them to take part in dangerous crash for cash scams; implicating them in fraud and putting innocent people in harm’s way,” said Nicola Smith, intelligence and investigations manager at the IFB. “We urge anyone using dating sites to look out for signs of this lesser-known fraud tactic, and to report any concerns.”
According to the City of London Police, over 18 months, the number of staged collisions increased. Mobile phone data confirmed that the women involved were saved contacts on Atkins’ device, with messages indicating personal relationships far beyond what would be expected between strangers in traffic incidents. In one case, he arranged for a car to collide with a woman who was seven months pregnant.
Atkins pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud by false representation between September 2020 and October 2022. None of the women profited, though they received police cautions after admitting their roles. A compensation order of £6,000 has been applied for.
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