Rather late in the day I am writing to ask you for advice regarding the loan of a Bentley following a motorway shunt 20 months ago. We were part of a multiple collision on the motorway coming home from Devon. My husband deliberately steered into the central barrier rather than the car in front, and the car behind drove into us. We were approximately the middle car of five or six. My husband was not blamed in any way by officials or police. Our Bentley, which we'd had from new, had probably done about 2,000 miles.

My husband was offered, and accepted, a similar Bentley which he used until our car was repaired, for a period of several weeks. I am not sure of details, as he tends to deal with car/business matters himself. He is finally to appear in court this Thursday. I believe the sum for the cost of the car hire is in the region of £70,000. Apparently it has been suggested that my husband should have used his other car whilst the Bentley was being repaired, but this is not possible as I have only a 2-seater car and have a severely handicapped son and three grandchildren that I am always ferrying about.

Have you any of your usual words of wisdom to help us resolve this ghastly situation? My husband will have a solicitor when he attends court. I'm afraid he will get so cross when he hears people justifying this now notorious scam that he could prejudice the outcome. If nothing else, hopefully my letter will add to what must be a bulging file you have on similar cases.