A man who failed to appear in court is being hunted by police - after being convicted in his absence of charges related to the planning of road accidents so that fake insurance claims could be made.

Boota Ram, 38, of Faraday Road, Slough, was due to appear at Reading magistrates court on Thursday.

On Friday he was convicted in his absence by a unanimous jury on one count of conspiracy to defraud, plus two counts of possession of articles for use in fraud.

He was tried in his absence alongside Gagandeep Gagandeep, 30, also of Faraday Road, who was present at court and was found guilty by unanimous verdict of one count of conspiracy to defraud.

He will be sentenced tomorrow.

Between November 2012 and December 2012, Ram and Gagandeep conspired together to cause road traffic collisions and submit false insurance claims.

Officers investigating also recovered hundreds of false identification documents which were used as part of these fraudulent claims.

Investigating officer Detective Constable James Rex, based at Slough police station, said: “Ram absconded during the trial and failed to attend court.

“He has been found guilty by a jury in his absence and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

“We believe that he could be driving a grey BMW 1 series with the registration plate beginning NA12, and that he may have travelled to the Birkenhead area of Liverpool.

“If you have any information which you think could help us to locate Ram, please contact Thames Valley Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

*Mohammed Popat, 56, of Farnham Road, Slough, was found not guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit fraud and one count of conspiracy to drive dangerously.