Petrol pincher admits to often 'borrowing petrol'
Published on 29th March 2007 in News
A motorist from Airmyn who drove off without paying for £50 worth of petrol told Goole Magistrates on Tuesday that it was not unusual for him to 'borrow' petrol.
Simon Davies (38), of High Street, appeared in court and pleaded guilty to making off without payment from Brian Leighton's garage in Howden.
Julie Laverack Glanville, for the Crown Prosecution Service, told the court on that at 12.25pm on March 8, Mr Davies had driven onto the forecourt and filled up his Ford Mondeo with £50.04 worth of unleaded petrol.
He then drove off without paying.
His actions were caught on CCTV, and staff took down his details, which led to him being arrested and charged.
Not the first time...
In an interview, Mr Davies told police he had put petrol in his car and driven off without paying several times in the past but had gone back to pay for it.
He told them: "I'm not stupid. I know that if I don't pay they're going to catch up with me."
Bank account running
on empty
Defending himself, Mr Davies, who is unemployed and receives benefits, said: "I know I shouldn't have done it.
"I always go back and pay them.
"I fully intended to go back and pay it tomorrow [Wednesday].
"If the money had been in the bank today I would have paid it but it's not there."
Magistrates gave him a conditional discharge for 12 months, and ordered him to pay £50.04 in compensation and £55 in court costs.