A taxi driver who claimed his dog died while chasing a seagull in a bizarre £31,700 insurance scam involving pets that never existed has been sentenced. Robert Cretu, 40, took out dozens of insurance policies for fictional pets before claiming they had been killed in a series of tragic accidents.
Elaborate claims
The 40-year-old was reportedly struggling financially after his taxi had repeatedly broken down. He made up increasingly bizarre stories to support his claims, including one incident involving a dog that had supposedly been struck by a lorry during a trip to the Lake District.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday that the conman had 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."
Details of the fraud
Cretu, of Lapwing Road in Kirkby, submitted false documents and veterinary notes as part of the scam, which ran from December 2023 to August 2025 - and saw him pocket a total of £31,700. Sarah Egan, prosecuting, told the court that most of the insurance policies had been taken out using fake names, with the payments also being made into bank accounts under the names of others.
Eight of these were made to Pinnacle Pets UK, including one which alleged a dog called Lola had died after being hit by a lorry in the Lake District. The fake claim earned Cretu £1,100 in March 2024. The defendant 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.
Court proceedings
Some claims did not result in payment after suspicions were raised over fraudulent activity, while other claims were deemed invalid or not ultimately completed. One, involving an apparently deceased Doberman, was rejected due to "excessive costs" and a lack of confirmation that a supposed cremation had 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 the "sole breadwinner" had very low income from previous delivery jobs and had bought a taxi that he said "broke down multiple times."
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.
Judge Gary Woodhall said Cretu had obtained fraudulent insurance policies and made repeated claims over a prolonged period. He said the defendant had given "differing accounts how the money been spent," describing his explanation as "inconsistent" and a way to "explain away your repeated and prolonged activity."
The judge said the total actual loss was £31,700, although the intended loss was much higher, with Cretu found to have made further claims that were unsuccessful. He said the number of offences and length of offending could have justified immediate custody, but he was "just about persuaded" to suspend the prison sentence because of Cretu's remorse, his admissions from the outset and the fact that immediate custody "will substantially affect others."
