A man from Prestonpans near Edinburgh has pleaded guilty to setting his car on fire in an attempt to claim the insurance money.

Victor Gray, a 26-year-old, was sentenced to 160 hours community service work last March after he was found guilty of decking out his Alfa Romeo with a police siren and then dressing up in an officer's uniform.

He had done this in order to impress speeding young women, it emerged.

Mr Gray again made an appearance in court yesterday after his insurers caught him out on a claim. The 26-year-old tried to claim £7,500 after he and a friend tried to set the same vehicle alight.

In November of last year, Mr Gray had taken the vehicle to be serviced, only to be told that it was in need of serious repair and was worth just £2,500, the Scotsman newspaper reports.

The accused admitted that he had set his car on fire, with the help of his friend. Sentence was deferred at Haddington Sheriff Court.