Drink driver who lied about crash lands himself and his Northumberland dad behind bars

A drink driver who crashed a black Mercedes into another car then tried to pin the blame on his mother has landed both himself and his father behind bars.
By Karon Kelly
Published 8th Mar 2024, 17:09 GMT
Updated 11th Mar 2024, 16:37 GMT
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Gavin Dhillon, who was “drunk” and uninsured, got out of the high-end motor, ordered the other driver not to involve the police, spat at him and warned “we run this place” after the smash in Sunderland on June 18, 2020.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that despite being offered cash to keep quiet, the other driver, who suffered whiplash, did alert the police and Dhillon was arrested at the scene.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But instead of accepting the blame for what he did, Dhillon remained silent when questioned, later said his mother was the driver, got his father to back up the false claim and even sent fake CCTV to the authorities.

Most Popular
Gavin Dhillon, pictured, and Sukvinder Dhillon have been sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court.Gavin Dhillon, pictured, and Sukvinder Dhillon have been sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court.
Gavin Dhillon, pictured, and Sukvinder Dhillon have been sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court.

His dad Sukvinder Dhillon later made a £80,000 insurance claim, using the forged footage, and was paid out £47,860 by Aviva.

The son has now been jailed for 18 months and his dad for 20 months.

Prosecutor Susannah Proctor told the court Dhillon jnr answered “no comment” when questioned by officers after the collision.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He was later given a notice requiring him to identify who had been the driver, which he sent back naming his mother.

Miss Proctor told the court: “He also sent police CCTV purporting to show him getting into the passenger side with his mother as the driver as evidence it was she, not Gavin Dhillon, who was driving.”

The court heard Dhillon snr was sent a notice, as registered keeper of the Mercedes, which was sent back also naming the mother as the driver that day.

The dad then submitted an insurance claim, using the same CCTV footage.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The court heard both men have had successful careers and been heavily involved in charity work. The court heard Dhillon snr is a “honest, decent, humble man” who acted out of a sense of “parental duty”.

Dhillon jnr, 27, of Hexham Road, Throckley, admitted common assault, perverting the course of justice, having no insurance and driving with excess alcohol. He was banned from driving for 37 months.

Dhillon snr, 55, of Great North Road, Stannington, admitted perverting the course of justice and fraud.