Luce spent �47,000 in three years, the court heard

Llewellyn Luce, 28, had a personalised number plate on the car, whose leather interior was crammed with gadgets.

Officials found Luce, of Pontypool, made money by turning other people's vehicles into supercars like his own.

He was jailed for eight months at Cardiff Crown Court after he admitted claiming �12,000 while on the dole.

The court was told investigators were on Luce's trail after a picture of the Citroen Saxo car appeared in Revs magazine, where Luce boasted: "It attracts so much attention it's daft."

The articled described it as a "flippy Saxo" with a combination of red and blue leather and neon lights that gave it a "strangely sexy" "pimp-daddy interior".

Additions to the vehicle included the personalised number, L77 UCE, a Sony Playstation, a surround-sound TV and a �2,300 stereo system.

The car had also been given a �2,000 paint job that gave the illusion of changing colour when viewed in different light.

Family and friends

Surveillance of Luce's home discovered the source of his illegal cash. He was working on four cars and two motorbikes and also ran a car valetting business.

When they arrested him, police found �2,000 in cash at Luce's home as well as a plasma screen television, a DVD player and a games console.

You are simply a fraudster who has taken advantage of a system which helps people in need Judge Christopher Llewellyn Jones

They discovered the father-of-two had spent some �47,000 in three years and ran up bills of �300 a month on his mobile phone.

Elizabeth Pearson, prosecuting, said: "He was clearly living a lifestyle that outstripped his legitimate means on benefit.

"He was, in effect, taking advantage of that money to finance what was a lavish lifestyle.

"It (the car) had not been modified at all when he bought it in March 2003."

Luce had been 'arrogant and stupid' said Det Sgt Tom Andrews

Without Luce's modifications it would have been worth about �4,000, the court heard.

In his defence, Luce claimed the equipment in the car had been given to him by family and friends, with some of it in exchange for helping in his cousin's garage. He said his cousin paid for his mobile phone bills.

Luce admitted claiming �6,000 in income support, �5,000 housing benefit and �1,000 council tax benefit.

Hilary Roberts, defending, said her client had been unable to work because of his disability. She said: "He is not a lazy person."

Sentencing him on Wednesday, Judge Christopher Llewellyn Jones said: "You are simply a fraudster who has taken advantage of a system which helps people in need.

"You used the money to lead an extravagant lifestyle. People who commit offences of this nature must face custody."

Outside court, Detective Superintendent Tom Andrews, of Gwent Police, said Luce had been "arrogant and stupid" to show off his car in the glossy car enthusiasts magazine.