A man who made up the theft of his car to police before torching it to falsely claim money on his insurance has been jailed.

Colin Doran, 34, appeared at Norwich Crown Court yesterday to be sentenced after previously being found guilty of two offences of fraud by making false representation following a trial in August.

The charges related to an incident in March 2009 when Doran, of Rowton Heath, near Dussindale Drive, Thorpe St Andrew, reported to police that his VW Golf had been stolen from Boundary Road in Norwich. The vehicle was later found burnt out in Hanworth Common near St Bartholomew's Church in north Norfolk.

An investigation carried out by police revealed Doran had fabricated the vehicle theft and had set fire to his own vehicle before fraudulently claiming �11,731 on his insurance.

Doran was sentenced to 16 weeks' imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently, and was told he must serve half his sentence.

Judge Alasdair Darroch, said insurance fraud was a serious offence and a 'message has to be sent out' to those who commit such crimes.

He said Doran had used a 'considerable degree of cunning' in a 'dishonest scheme backed up by lies to two insurance companies which puts up the cost of insurance for everyone else'.

John Farmer, mitigating, said the result of these offences for Doran, who left school with no academic qualifications, would be 'quite substantial' and 'put him on the edge of disaster' as he will find it almost impossible to be insured again as a taxi driver.

He said: 'You can probably defraud a bank of �1.7bn and get work in the city, but you can't get any work as a taxi driver after committing these offences.'

Mr Farmer said Doran has not lived a 'life of idleness' but has worked and who 'will seek employment again, but has a 'very significant question mark against him' after being convicted. He said: 'The conviction itself will have a particularly devastating effect upon his life.'

Doran will have to serve half his sentence before being released.

Have you got a crime story for the Evening News? Call crime reporter Peter Walsh on 01603 772436 or email peter.walsh@archant.co.uk