A JUDGE has got tough with two car criminals by locking them up after they admitted stealing and torching a car.

Paul Stait, 19, of Queen Street, Tredegar, and James Flynn, 20, of Cripps Avenue, Tredegar, were sent to a young offenders' institution by Judge Christopher Llewellyn-Jones, QC, at Newport crown court.

The judge told them: "I am of the opinion these offences, particularly the offence of arson, is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified."

The sentence came after our Car Safe campaign called for tougher sentences for car criminals.

The judge said that a clear distinction had to be drawn between Stait and Flynn.

Judge Llewellyn-Jones said: "You, James Flynn, are assessed by the probation service as a person at high risk of re-offending.

"You have previously been sentenced to a period of nine months in a young offenders' institution - this seems to have had little affect on your criminal behaviour."

He sentenced Stait to six months for the theft and nine months for arson, to run concurrently.

He sentenced Flynn to nine months for theft and 15 months for arson, to run concurrently.

Stait and Flynn had pleaded guilty to the theft of a Rover Metro on February 4 and setting fire to it.

Stephen Thomas, prosecuting, said that at the time, there had been a heavy snowfall and the police found footprints which led to Stait and Flynn. Claire Pickthall, defending Paul Stait, said that her client had shown remorse. "He is a young man of promise who wishes to put his offending behind him," she said.

Miss Pickthall added that he was someone who could become a useful and upstanding member of the community.

Bernard Powell, defending Flynn, said that this had been a foolish offence committed after drinking alcohol. He added that Flynn had also expressed remorse.

Det Sgt Gideon Gratton-Smith, of Tredegar police, said that he supported the sentences and said that such punishments reflected the seriousness of car crime.

He said: "We are trying our best to combat car crime in all ways. "Car crime we deal with daily and comes in many forms; damage and thefts, and is a daily battle for us.

"Campaigns on car crime can only do good to help the problems."