A SOLDIER who reported his car had been stolen in a bid to dodge parking tickets has been jailed for wasting 37 hours of police time.

Rifleman Andrew Griffiths had infact sold his blue Mercedes Benz CLK to a Devon man in February last year but told police it was taken during a burglary at his Shildon home, a court heard.

John Garside, prosecuting, said details of the car was put on a national database and it was tracked to Devon where it was seized from its new owner until 22-year-old Griffiths finally admitted his lies.

“The defendant stated that he reported the burglary so he could avoid parking tickets which he found at his address in March 2015,” Mr Garside added.

“He fully admitted that his false report had caused police to waste time but there was no remorse or sympathy for the vehicle being seized from the owner.”

Griffiths, who serves with 3 Rifles, based in Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to wasting police time between April and July last year.

He also admitted breaking two suspended sentences for previous offences including possessing ammunition without a firearms licence.

Mr Garside said Durham Constabulary wasted 27 hours investigating Griffith’s claims while Devon and Cornwall Constabulary had wasted ten hours.

Serjeant Adam Phillips, who spoke on behalf of the Army, advised Newton Aycliffe magistrates that their decision should not be affected by Griffiths being a soldier.

He also said the Griffiths, of Cedar Grove, Shildon, was due to officially leave the Army next month although his prison sentence will mean he will now be dismissed.

Kayleigh Hellens, mitigating, said her client had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and was remorseful for his “foolish act”.

“He accepts he has brought the Army and his regiment into disrepute,” she said.

Sentencing him to a total of 48 weeks in prison, magistrate Dorothy Winter, told Griffiths: “We believe that his offence is so serious that only a custodial sentence could be warranted in the circumstances.”

She added: “A total of 37 hours was wasted when the police could have been investigating real crimes.”

Mrs Winter also ordered Griffiths to pay an £80 victim surcharge on his release.

“We need to send you a really important lesson about wasting police time. It’s really important that you learn from this mistake.”