Tony Jones was a security guard on the Half Light film set

Tony Jones, 43, drove the �15,000 Land Rover Defender onto an Anglesey beach where it sank in the sand.

The vehicle, hired by the production company filming Half Light in October 2004, was written off after being covered by the tide twice.

Jones, of Rhyd Menai, Menai Bridge, admitted aggravated vehicle taking.

Unemployed Jones had initially claimed he had been chasing an intruder from the production site at Newborough Forest on Llanddwyn Island, Mold Crown Court heard.

But the court was told Jones had been employed to ensure the site was safe - and was not instructed to chase suspected intruders away.

On October 10 2004, two hired Landr Rover Defenders were left in the defendant's care overnight.

Jones admitted to taking one and abandoning it in the Menai Straits when it got stuck.

The film production company had to pay the hire company the value of the vehicle and after claiming on the insurance were left with a shortfall of �3,000, the court heard.

Judge John Rogers QC ordered the defendant to do 150 hours unpaid work, banned him from driving for a year and ordered him to pay �425 costs.

Judge Rogers said Jones - who had previous convictions - had escaped a prison sentence because of his guilty plea and because he had been out of trouble for seven years.

He added: "You were employed as a security officer. However, you took the opportunity in that position, and without authority, to drive that vehicle.