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Emo Kids Just Can't Keep Their Mouths Shut...Even IF you pay them 20$

A MOTHER of three paid three youths to torch her car after she got fed up with it breaking down, a court heard.

Lisa Anne Hanbury admitted perverting the course of justice and was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for twelve months, at Newport crown court.

The 27-year-old, of Bridge Street, Risca, was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in the community.

advertisementHanbury left her Renault Laguna near Nine Mile Point industrial estate after it broke down on a journey to her home from her mother's house in Cross Keys, Jane Rowley, prosecuting said.

Hanbury lost her patience with the £5,500 car, which she had been paying £140 a month to a finance company for, for the past two years, the court heard.

She gave three youths £20 each to torch the car, on November 18, last year, intending to claim on her insurance.

The car was completely destroyed and Hanbury went to the police claiming it had been stolen, Ms Rowley said.

She contacted her insurance company and started the procedure to make a claim.

But, the court heard, Hanbury admitted arranging for the car to be burnt after the youths were arrested and admitted their part in the crime.

Mr Leighton Hughes, for Hanbury, said the mother of three young children, who had no previous convictions, had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and was able to do unpaid work as she was actively seeking employment.

Mr Recorder Patrick Thomas QC said the offence was so serious that only a custodial sentence was justified.

"But in view of your clean character, the difficulties you were having at the time with financial matters and as you are the mother of three young children I will take the course of suspending that prison sentence," he said.