The Assessor Winter 2026 PDF - Flipbook - Page 8
[continued from page 7]
ONE-OF-ONE
PHANTOM
FEATURES
FIRST-EVER
LASER-ENGRAVED
BONNET
CONVICTIONS
FOR DUO WHO
STOLE PERSONAL
DATA FROM
INSURERS AND
REPAIRERS
The ICO (Information Commissioner’s Of昀椀ce) con昀椀rmed
two further individuals have been convicted following
an investigation into the unlawful accessing and sale of
personal information obtained from over 400 bodyshops
across the UK, as well as claims management and
insurance companies.
Approximately one million records were accessed by the
defendants convicted of an offence under the Computer
Misuse Act.
Christopher Munro from Cheshire, and William Chipoma
from London, were charged after investigations uncovered
their involvement in the theft and sale of personal data
within the claims management sector.
To achieve the effect, the Rolls-Royce bonnet is 昀椀rst painted
in a darker colour, then sealed beneath multiple layers
of clear coat before a lighter top layer is applied. The
geometric mashrabiya pattern is then engraved to a depth of
just 145–190 microns into the uppermost surface, revealing
the darker tone beneath. The result is a richly textured,
three-dimensional surface that catches the light and invites
exploration: a pattern intended to be discovered by both the
eye and the hand.
Each of the engraved areas is meticulously hand-sanded to
ensure an even, sculptural 昀椀nish. By integrating the pattern
within the paint itself rather than applying it on top, this
method achieves an exceptional level of re昀椀nement and
durability, while variations in laser velocity and intensity
create subtle visual shifts as light moves across the surface.
The project brought together the full expertise of the
Exterior Surface Centre, with every team contributing to the
development of this new craft form.
The ICO’s enquiries revealed that Munro and Chipoma
deliberately sought employment with the intention of
stealing and selling personal data.
Munro, while working for two different companies during
2015 and 2016, accessed thousands of records without
legitimate authority or consent, receiving payments
totalling £16,000. He made multiple employment
applications to claims management and insurance
companies but left after short periods when unable to
access personal data.
Chipoma illegally accessed records and sold personal data
between 2015 and 2017, receiving payments totalling
£70,550.
Both men pleaded guilty to all offences at an earlier
hearing.
This brings the total number of people prosecuted in the
ICO’s largest nuisance call investigation to 13.
RAC NAMED ‘CAR
INSURANCE PROVIDER
OF YEAR’ FOR FIFTH YEAR
IN A ROW BY MONEYFACTS
RAC Insurance has won ‘Car Insurance Provider of the Year’
for the 昀椀fth consecutive time at the
Moneyfactscompare.co.uk Awards 2026.
The awards combine feedback from hundreds of thousands
of consumers with Moneyfacts expert in-house analysis,
with categories spanning the savings, mortgage, banking
and insurance markets. Previously known as the Moneyfacts
8
Consumer Awards, they were rebranded in 2025 to better
re昀氀ect the vital role visitors to websites play.
In addition to securing the ‘Car Insurance Provider of Year’
award every year since 2022, RAC Insurance 昀椀rst won the
title in 2019. At the 2026 event RAC Insurance also awarded
Highly Commended Travel Insurance Provider of the Year.
THE ASSESSORS JOURNAL | WINTER 2026 | www.iaea-online.org/news/the-assessor
JOURNAL
