An appeal has been launched to find a ‘crash for cash’ fraudster who failed to show for sentencing.

Samoon Baryali, 39, of Evelyn Avenue,Colindale was due to appear before a judge to be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, October 2 for his role in the scam.

He had been found guilty in July of two counts of conspiracy to defraud.

Baryali initially showed up at court but then failed to show for sentencing. He was jailed for five years’ in his absence and now police are trying to trace him.

He was part of a gang of six men which operated mainly in north London.

The gang attempted to defraud the UK insurance industry of about £5.6m by convincing people to let them use their cars for pre-planned crashes, before making exaggerated or fraudulent claims.

They were sentenced to a total of more than 15 years imprisonment last Friday.

Mohammad Farshad Samoon, 28, of Evelyn Avenue, Colindale was sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Jalid Hanadzai, 24, of Gaydon Lane, Colindale was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.

Afaq Anjum Njum, 36, of Bayden Avenue, Salford was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment; Yousaf Haider, 45, of Tansy Close, Newham was sentencing to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Muhammad Akik Miah, 38, of Exeter Road, Hounslow was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Anyone who has seen Samoon Baryali, or knows of his whereabouts, is asked to contact the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Rickett, of the Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: "This was an audacious criminal act, carried out by unscrupulous people who deliberately targeted other road users, often vulnerable drivers, in order to defraud their insurance companies. They appeared not to care that their reckless acts placed other road users at the risk of serious injury.

"We are totally committed to working in partnership with the insurance industry to detect, disrupt and prosecute those involved in this type of criminality; the sentences handed down should serve as a stark warning to those that seek to commit insurance fraud."

Scott Clayton, claims fraud and investigations manager with Zurich Insurance, said: "Convictions such as these demonstrate the value of collaboration between insurers and the Metropolitan Police. We are delighted that the perpetrators of this fraud have been brought to justice."