An unemployed father-of-five has admitted stealing almost £200 worth of petrol because he “did not have enough money to pay for it”.
Steven Pawsey, aged 53, of Woodsfield, Brixworth, filled his car up with petrol at the Tesco garage in East Hunsbury on four occasions between October 2012 and January 2013 and then drove off without paying.
Northampton Magistrates’ Court heard that Pawsey stole a total of £188.58 worth of petrol.
Julie Costello, prosecuting, said Pawsey was arrested after he was identified in CCTV footage as the driver of a blue Ford Focus.
After being arrested by officers, Pawsey said in interview that he had driven off without paying on the first occasion because he was in a rush to visit his daughter in Wales and he did not have enough money to pay for petrol to get there.
Pawsey was also found to be in breach of a conditional discharge he received in February 2012 after he admitted stealing an iron from Wilkinsons and socks from Tesco.
Magistrates sentenced Pawsey, who pleaded guilty to four charges of making off without payment, to six weeks in prison, suspended for one year. He must pay back the money owed to Tesco at a rate of £5 per week.