ORANGE man Michael Jones, 51, was convicted in Orange Local Court today of deliberately torching his vehicle to claim the insurance money.
ORANGE man Michael Jones, 51, was convicted in Orange Local Court today of deliberately torching his vehicle to claim the insurance money.
Magistrate Bruce Williams told Jones he narrowly escaped jail because he had a good record.
Jones pretended he was asleep and knew nothing about the fire in September last year when police and emergency services knocked on his door.
His Subaru Impreza was alight in the backyard.
The court heard Jones was under severe financial stress trying to pay off two vehicles financed through separate finance companies which led him to set fire to his vehicle after an earlier attempt in August last year failed.
Find out more in tomorrow's Central Western Daily.