A VEHICLE examiner said damage to cars claimed to have been involved in an accident was not consistent with reports of the crash.

John Sutcliffe, who inspects vehicles that have been involved in accidents, gave evidence yesterday at the trial of Musharaf Dean, aged 32, his wife, Rehana, aged 31, of Baysdale Avenue, Deane, and Luqman Patel aged 22, of Sunninghill Street, Daubhill.

They are accused of conspiracy to defraud in connection with a crash which the prosecution alleges never happened. They plead not guilty The defendants claim that on July 8, 2002, at the junction of Venice Street and Derby Street in Bolton, a Ford Escort, Vauxhall Vectra and a BMW collided.

The Escort is said to have driven into the back of a stationary Vauxhall Vectra in Venice Street, which then shunted into Derby Street, where it struck the side of a BMW.

The court heard that Escort driver, Caroline Catley, who has pleaded guilty to fraud, said in her first statement that she was travelling at about 30mph.

She later revised this to 20mph to 25mph, but Mr Sutcliffe said in the event of a real crash, the actual speed would have been 10mph.

He said the damage was “disproportionate” to that which would have been caused in a crash of the speed claimed.

He added: “The damage at the front of the Ford Escort had occurred at speeds no greater than 10mph. I would expect that the Vauxhall would have moved only slightly.

“It is suggested that the Vauxhall was pushed into the road but that would not happen.”

The trial continues.