Michelle Louise Hannah sentenced for failed fraud attempt after setting car on for insurance money

A desperate grandmother who hatched a plan to set her car on fire and claim the insurance money landed in court after texts and CCTV footage led police to back to her.

A desperate grandmother’s plan to set her car on fire and claim thousands in insurance money came unravelled when CCTV and text messages led police to the truth.

Michelle Louise Hannah, 55, pleaded guilty to arson and attempted fraud in the Ipswich District Court on Tuesday.

Hannah and another person known to her, were alleged to have hatched a plan to have a third party take her car from her property and set it alight in order for them to claim the insurance money.

The car was insured for $5700 and a desperate Hannah wanted the money to pay for other expenses and outstanding bills.

On October 7, 2020, Hannah left the keys in the ignition and the car parked on her Ironbark property, and another person allegedly arranged for other people to take the car to a remote location.

Hannah allegedly texted the other person to make sure the neighbours did not see the car being taken.

The second person followed the people in Hannah’s car to the remote area were the car was set alight and “totally destroyed” by the fire, Judge Dennis Lynch said.

Hannah made an insurance claim the following day.

Michelle Louise Hannah leaves Ipswich District Court after being sentenced for arson and attempted fraud.

When police interviewed Hannah, she initially lied and told officers she had no knowledge of her car being taken or burnt, Judge Lynch said in his sentencing remarks.

However, when CCTV footage linked the second person to the offending she came clean and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and withdrew the insurance claim.

The court heard Hannah’s young daughter and a five-year-old grandson lived with her and she also cared for elderly father, Mr Brown said.

Hannah was diagnosed with anxiety and depression but was engaging in treatment and was remorseful, her defence barrister said.

Judge Lynch sentenced Hannah to two years in prison, wholly suspended for two years.

He said that ultimately the only victim of her crime was herself, as she lost her car.