CAR crime is turning business away from Newport, says wrest-ling promoter Matthew Jones.

He is backing the Argus Car Safe campaign - and says the car thieves are destroying the city's reputation.

We are fighting back against car thieves who cause distress and misery by stealing or breaking into vehicles. Our campaign is being backed by police, politicians, magistrates and victims.

The 21-year-old, (pictured) from Pant Road, Malpas, spent months persuading the Frontier Wrestling Alliance (FWA) to come to the Newport City Live Arena on Clarence Place.

But thieves stole a car being used by a journalist and cameraman covering the event. It was stolen from Usk Road and recovered nearby the next day.

The pair had to stay in a Newport hotel for two nights while police carried out their investigation.

Furious Mr Jones told the Argus: "We don't have a good reputation with outsiders anyway but I was saying Newport was fine and safe to the FWA. "I was being proved right as we had a successful event attended by more than 400 people but then it was ruined by this car crime.

"I was disappointed and angry as I had made so much effort." CCTV footage recorded a lone male smashing a window of the car to gain access before driving off.

Mr Jones said: "Some kid had taken it, gone for a ride and then taken it back. It wasn't a car belonging to FWA staff but they were reluctant to come back as who knows what would happen next time.

"Things like this are just going to stop events coming to Newport. Not only does car crime hurt people, it hurts local business.

"The whole thing caused a great deal of inconvenience and if it hadn't happened there would have been no question of FWA returning, but now that has been put under threat.

"The police are doing the best they can under the circumstances and in this instance they got it sorted fairly quickly."