WHEN Southampton car dealer Chris Carey lent his £50,000 supercar to a charity Ferrari fun day he thought he was doing his bit.

But his act of giving turned into the loss of his light blue Ferrari F360 Spider after he handed the keys to an uninsured driver – who smashed it into a tree.

And Carey’s insurance company was less than charitable when it found out he was fibbing in his claim form, claiming he was driving the sports car that burst into flames after impact.

Now the dad-of-four is not just coming to terms with losing his prized motor, which bore a personalised number plate spelling his name.

At Southampton Crown Court the 40-year-old from Eastleigh was ordered to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work after admitting the fraud.

Judge Gary Burrell said: “I accept of course you were carrying out a laudable act in promoting this charitable event.

“But subsequently you carried out a blatantly dishonest attempt by filling in an application form designed to deceive your insurance company to pay out for an expensive car, some £50,000.”

Andrew Houston, defending, said his client accepted giving false information was dishonest.

But he pointed out he started out that day on Sunday, July 19, 2009, looking to raise funds for an air ambulance by taking people for a spin around Newbury Show Ground.

“At £15 a ride he thought he was doing his bit,” he added.

But he said Carey became tired and handed over his keys to a friend called David Eldridge who was uninsured. He lost control and slammed into a tree while carrying a child passenger. The car then burst into flames, although no one was injured.

The court also heard from probation officer Elaine Wiltshire. She believed Carey was not likely to commit a similar offence in the future.

She said: “We discussed the offence and he maintains that he panicked and in essence that is why he gave false information.”