AN EBBW Vale man was given a suspended prison sentence yesterday after setting fire to himself during an insurance scam.

Kevin Watts, 36, of Heol-yr-Ysgol, was injured after setting a Vauxhall Astra estate car on fire on August 28 last year.

Watts appeared at Cardiff Crown Court with Anthony Richard Goodwin, 47, of Alexandra Place, Tredegar, and Nathan Straddling, 22, of Vale Terrace, Tredegar.

All three pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud.

The court heard Goodwin's car, worth £1,290, broke down in Tredegar last year.

Straddling worked as a mechanic at his grandfather’s garage in Ebbw Vale and told Goodwin there was a clutch problem and would be expensive to fix.

Goodwin said he wished he could burn the car and said would be better off if he could get rid of it.

Helen Roddick, prosecuting, said Goodwin promised to pay Straddling £200 to get rid of the car and would claim on his insurance.

Straddling asked Watts to set fire to the car, which was found burnt out by the fire service in Shaw Close, Ebbw Vale.

They also found a taxi registration plate and Watts’ mobile phone nearby.

Watts suffered severe burns from the fire to his hands, forearms, neck and fire and had to be taken to Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny.

Police traced the phone back to Watts who claimed his burns, which covered 16 percent of his body, were caused by a fire at his garden shed while having a cigarette.

Andrew Davies, defending Goodwin, called him hardworking and the suggestion of burning the car was off-the-cuff which went further than he ever imagined.

Andrew Morse, defending Straddling, said he was remorseful and his actions were out of character.

Jeffrey Jones, defending Watts, said he was in hospital for five days and struggles to cope with his injuries.

Recorder Richard Twomlow said the incident could have caused danger to people passing by.

Goodwin was given a community order and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

Straddling was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months and must complete 200 hours unpaid work.

Both must pay £400 towards prosecution costs.

Watts was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for 12 months, will be supervised for 12 months, must complete a thinking skills programme and carry out 150 hours unpaid work.