A man has been jailed for 48 weeks after filing a false insurance claim on his car insurance.

Last year, the 34 year old fraudster told the police that his Mini Cooper had been stolen from outside his girlfriend’s home in Hartlepool, Teesside.

The man filed a claim for £12,000 from his car insurance as a result.

However, after his girlfriend gave a spare key to the police, it was found that the claim was in fact false.

It emerged that the car had a hi-tech security protection system which meant the car could only be driven with the key to the vehicle.

The spare “intelligent” key revealed that the man had driven the vehicle 1,500 miles after reporting that the car was stolen.

The case was then taken to Teesside crown court where the man was found guilty of committing insurance fraud.

In court, the mad admitted to making a false insurance claim.

He was given a 48 week jail sentence and was suspended for two years. He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours’ of unpaid work as a result.

Commenting on the “intelligent” key, Christopher Attwooll, prosecuting, told the court: "Suspicions were raised because this type of vehicle cannot be driven without the key, even if it is duplicated.

It's amazing what can be done nowadays."