A rally car owner who faked the theft of his Ford Escort Mk2 has been given a suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to fraud.
Llyr Jones from Carmarthenshire phoned the police and used Facebook to report that his rally car, worth nearly £50,000, had been stolen from a locked garage. Details of the theft were widely shared on social media in October 2022.
In a television interview on Newyddion S4C, Jones said he was “heartbroken” about the ‘theft’.
When the Escort was found in woods near Newcastle Emlyn, Jones posted on Facebook, saying: “Thank you for all your help. It’s been found. But stripped and all parts gone. I’m devastated and so grateful for all the help. Not the outcome we wanted. But I will come back stronger.”
Jones contacted his insurance provider to inform them about the alleged theft, but things started to unravel when police received a tip-off that the car hadn’t been stolen. Instead, Jones had removed the most valuable parts and dumped the car in the woods.

Police searched his premises and found parts previously fitted to the Escort. Having initially denied fraud, Jones later admitted making up the story and accepted a charge of fraud by false representation.
Speaking at Swansea Crown Court, prosecution barrister James Hartson said: “It became obvious that the defendant had taken parts from the car in the days leading to him reporting it as stolen”.
He added that Jones wanted to take his own life and intended to use the insurance money to look after his family.
Defence barrister Georgia Donohue added: “At the time of the incident he was having a lot of problems with his mental health. His son was born two years previously and he has had a number of health problems which put a lot of stress on the family.
”He dealt with this through throwing himself into work and not speaking to people about his problems. His grandfather also died around a year before the incident and he was a man that Mr Jones spoke to about everything. He made this plan when not thinking with a sound mind. He wanted to take his own life. He has had therapy and he is in a much better place now.”
Jones was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years, ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service and pay court costs.