A Spanish playboy is facing jail for his part in a luxury stolen car racket.

Bodybuilder Leon Bardavid Amar, 28, came to Britain after romancing a girl on holiday and he settled into the nightclub and keep-fit circuit.

But detectives became suspicious of the 6ft 2in's crook and kept watch on car parks in Newcastle city centre where they believed high-value luxury stolen cars were being stashed.

And Operation Frog led to Amar being arrested at his girlfriend's home in Fatfield, Washington, Tyne and Wear, in connection with conspiracy to steal top performance sports cars, including a £60,000 Porsche 911 Carrera, a £70,000 Mercedes and a Ferrari F355 also worth around £70,000.

He admitted a charge of handling the stolen vehicles at Newcastle Crown Court and was remanded to Durham jail where he awaits sentence.

Two of the stolen vehicles were parked near his girlfriend's home and the other was in the Sandgate carpark on Newcastle's Quayside.

Officers went back with him to his home in Chandos Street, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear and as they were talking to him the postman arrived with a white package. He opened it to reveal it was stuffed with a £1,650 cash payment.