Queensland son busted setting his own car on fire to claim $20K insurance

Devoted son is busted setting his own car on fire to claim $20K insurance in desperate attempt to help his mum – who lost life-savings to Texan romance scammer

  • Man took his car to a quarry and burned it so he could collect insurance money 
  • He wanted to give his mother, who had been scammed, some money to survive
  • The man later confessed to police when confronted with the evidence

A loving son set his own car on fire to help his mother reclaim her life savings after she was conned in a Texan romance scam.

Charles Alan Bowden, 43, took his car to a deserted quarry in Central Queensland at the beginning of the year and set it alight.

He was attempting to get a $20,000 insurance payout after his ‘lonely and vulnerable’ mother sent $200,000 to a man she thought she was in a relationship with, according to the Gympie Times. 

Charles Alan Bowden, 43, took his car to a deserted quarry in Central Queensland at the beginning of the year and lit it on fire (stock)

His barrister Scott McLennan told the court his plan was to buy a cheap car and give the rest of his money from the payout to his mother, who was in dire financial stress.

He also said the spot was chosen as ‘there’s simply no chance of the fire spreading’. 

Bowden launched the claim with AAMI but later tried to withdraw it.

He initially lied to police, according to prosecutor Will Slack, but later confessed when evidence came to light the car had been started with a key. 

Mr McLennan told the court Bowden has suffered from depression for almost a decade and was ashamed of his actions. 

He was attempting to get a $20,000 insurance payout after his 'lonely and vulnerable' mother sent $200,000 to a man she thought she was in a relationship with (stock)

He was attempting to get a $20,000 insurance payout after his ‘lonely and vulnerable’ mother sent $200,000 to a man she thought she was in a relationship with (stock)

Bowden pleaded guilty to arson and attempted fraud.

Judge Julie Dick said Bowden wasn’t the first to burn a car for the insurance money but it was a standout fact that it was his own car.

She said he would have a hard time in custody due to his mental health and there was little chance of re-offending. 

‘You cannot buy your way out of jail … but the Court of Appeal has said that where compensation has been paid or there’s a real offer of compensation it can be considered … as remorse,’ she said.   

He was given a suspended sentence of three years and had a conviction recorded.  

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