Army driver Jemma Gray allowed her car to be set alight in an insurance fraud, a court heard.

Gray, 19, a lorry driver at Dalton Barracks, Abingdon, faced charges of arson and attempting to obtain property by deception in the trial at Oxford Crown Court yesterday.

Gray's car, a yellow Citroen Saxo, was set alight on September 11 last year by Craig Heron, 19, who was a supplies specialist based at the barracks at the time. He has already been sentenced for arson.

Heron told the jury yesterday that Gray wanted a new, faster, sportier car and thought that she would receive more money by claiming the insurance value of the car than by selling it.

He said that on the night of September 11, accompanied by Gray, and two other army employees - Mr Jonathan Russell, 20, and Miss Abigail Thompson, 19, - he drove the car to a remote country lane at Combe, near Woodstock, doused the interior in petrol and set it alight.

Gray reported the loss of her car to the police the following morning, and two weeks later claimed £5,520 from Direct Line Insurance for the loss of her vehicle and possessions.

Heron's evidence was supported by Miss Thompson and Mr Ian McAllister, 21, who worked with Heron in supplies.

Mr McAllister said he overheard Heron and Gray planning to set the Citroen alight, on the afternoon of September 11.

Gray said she had been in the Red Lion pub in Abingdon with Miss Thompson and that the car had been taken from the pub's car park. But Miss Thompson denied going to the pub. Gray said that Heron and Mr Russell had come into the pub for five to ten minutes before leaving again.

Mr Ben Stephenson, defending, said that Heron was obsessed by cars, had a string of motoring convictions and had repeatedly lied to police in his evidence.

He added that Miss Thompson had also changed the story she gave to police.

The trial continues.