A MAN admitted setting his car on fire and false accounting at Teesside Crown Court yesterday.

Mark Bignell admitted setting fire to the Mercedes Benz inside his garage premises on December 21, 2000.

He pleaded not guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered, but pleaded guilty to arson. That plea was accepted by the prosecution.

Rebecca Young, prosecuting, said Bignell, 37, of Mitchell Street, Hartlepool, had also pleaded guilty to a charge of false accounting concerning an MoT book which contained false details.

Defence barrister Ian West asked for the case to be adjourned while a pre-sentence report was prepared. Bignell was released on bail.