THREE friends have been ordered to pay ￡300,000 over a crash-for-cash con.

       Restaurant owner Valentino Martone’s Lexus was rammed by a pal in a rented VW van.

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       Restaurant owner Valentino Martone’s Lexus was rammed by a pal in a rented VW van

       A third man claimed the Lexus was shunted into the back of his Alfa Romeo on the A50 in Goostrey, Cheshire.

       But their ￡50,000 plot failed as insurers found a tracker device in the van showed the crash in 2013 actually took place on a garage forecourt owned by Martone’s brother.

       After a 20-day civil trial, a judge at Manchester county court ordered Martone, of Congleton, Cheshire, David Molyneaux, of Stockport, Cheshire, and Andrew Gaskell, of Stoke, to pay ￡300,000 to insurer QBE.

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