A MOTORIST who drove off without paying for £30 worth of fuel has been left with a court bill of more than £900.
Alan Stanaway, 36, told magistrates he made off without paying for fuel on two occasions because he ‘had no money on him’.
Outlining the offences at Workington Magistrates’ Court, prosecutor Pamela Fee said the defendant drove a Ford Transit van into the Spar garage at Hensingham in Whitehaven on September 3. He filled up the van with £10.92 worth of fuel and then drove off without paying.
A further incident then took place on September 13 at the Jubilee garage in Egremont. Stanaway filled the van up with £19.99 worth of fuel then went into the shop as if to pay. He then went out the shop, got back into the vehicle and drove off.
Stanaway, who was not legally represented, told magistrates: “I apologise for it. I had no money on me at the time.”
He pleaded guilty to two charges of making off without payment.
Passing sentence, presiding magistrate Jeff Forster said: “This is going to be an expensive episode for you.”
Stanaway, of Ennerdale Road, Cleator Moor, was fined £583 and ordered to pay a total of £30.91 in compensation to the garages.
He must also pay £85 costs and a £233 victim surcharge.