MANCHESTER — A city man who faked the theft of his car after it failed to pass an inspection has pleaded guilty to felony insurance fraud, state officials announced.

Jean C. Cadet pleaded guilty in Hillsborough County Superior Court. A $1,000 fine and six-month jail sentence were suspended, providing he stays out of trouble and pays restitution to Progressive Insurance Company, according to a statement issued by the New Hampshire Attorney General.

On May 6, 2011, Cadet reported to Manchester police that his 2003 Volvo was stolen from outside his English Village Road apartment, prosecutors said. It was found two days later in Revere Beach, Mass., and deemed a total loss based on damage to the engine.

An investigation by the state Insurance Fraud unit showed that the car failed an inspection in March because it was in such poor repair. The grace period for repairs was to expire May 7.

Authorities said Cadet drove the car to Revere Beach and left it with a friend, telling him to get rid of it.

Cadet told authorities he could not afford the repairs and had hoped to use insurance proceeds to repair the car or buy a different vehicle.