08 July 2023 , 16:01
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A chef who was filmed walking after claiming an accident left him in a wheelchair faces being extradited to Ireland for fraud.
Jason Platt, 51, sued a hotel for £1.49million following a fall which he said left him crippled for life.
But after a private investigator recorded him walking, driving and shopping without a wheelchair, he is facing eight charges of fraud.
Platt was on a Valentine's getaway in Kinsale, Ireland, with his then fiancée in 2009 when he fell out of a third-floor window.
He claimed his injuries were so bad he was reliant on a wheelchair, housebound and unable to work.
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But after the Old Bank Townhouse’s insurance firm filmed Platt leaving home in St Helens, Merseyside, unaided, the Irish High Court refused his damages claim.
A private investigator caught Platt walking, driving and shoppingWhile it accepted Platt had serious injuries, the court said he had exaggerated.
He lost an appeal in 2017, when a judge said he had been “relentlessly dishonest” in trying to “rob the defendants of a colossal amount”.
The broke and jobless chef, who is on benefits, is fighting extradition.
Platt faces extradition to Ireland for fraud charges (Getty Images/iStockphoto)He was in a wheelchair when he appeared via video link at Westminster Magistrates Court last month to argue against the order.
But District Judge Sternberg said: “I conclude the requested person’s extradition is neither unjust nor oppressive due to his condition of physical or mental health.”
On Thursday Platt lodged permission to appeal his extradition decision. If unsuccessful, he will face trial on eight counts including attempted deception and providing false and misleading information.