A MOTORIST prosecuted after driving with no insurance claimed he was the victim of fraud.

South Cumbria Magistrates' Court heard Leo Bell was driving a car near Barrow town centre when he was stopped by police.

Checks by officers raised suspicions that he was not insured to drive the vehicle.

He was charged with driving without insurance and was convicted after a trial he failed to turn up for.

Describing the incident on Barrow's Dalkeith Street on April 10 last year, prosecutor Lee Dacre said: "Police were on patrol when they saw a vehicle. A female exited the vehicle and it the proceeded in the direction of Abbey Road at speed."

Police followed the car, with checks showing it was registered in Ulverston and belonged to a woman.

Bell was asked to produce insurance documents but could not do so, the court heard.

He claimed he had a temporary policy of insurance but could not produce an email with proof of payment.

Later down the line the defendant produced what he thought was proof of his insurance at the time, the court heard.

However it proved the insurance was not legitimate.

Bell claimed he was not aware and had been the victim of a fraudulent insurance company.

Mr Dacre said police believed the company may have bought insurance policies and doctored them to sell on.

He said police were unable to prove if Bell knew the insurance was genuine or not.

Bell told magistrates he had found the company online while searching for temporary insurance.

He said: "I don't know how you expect me to know this company was a scam.

"All I did was Google temporary car insurance and that was the cheapest one."

The 21-year-old, of Buccleuch Street, faces losing his licence but asked the court to opt against banning him for special reasons.

His sentencing was adjourned for another hearing on October 11.