Lorry driver fined for fuel card fraud

A lorry driver who bought fuel for himself using his company card has been ordered to pay out £1,600 after pleading guilty to fraud.

Chenlair Bent, aged 49, worked as a driver for Dreams and had a payment card he used to pay for diesel in his lorry.

But Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that he was caught on CCTV camera filling up two containers with an extra £50 worth of fuel in a pre-planned operation with a friend.

Prosecuting, Mr Hugh O'Brien-Quinn said: "On February 9 last year he pulled up in his lorry at the BP garage in Great Bridge Street in West Bromwich. Moments before a Mitsubishi Shogun pulled up next to it.

"The defendant was seen going to the Mitsubishi, opening the boot and filling two petrol containers.

"The car then drove off and he filled his lorry and went in to pay for it all on the payment card.

"He was on the forecourt for quarter of an hour and brought 595 litres of fuel costing £648."

Around £40 or £50 of that was spent on the petrol containers, he told the court.

Defending, Mr Ben Mills, said: "He knew he was wrong, and he has learned from his mistake. On reflection he has found the situation rather embarrassing."

The court heard that Bent, of Watling Street, Brownhills, had elected for a trial at crown court rather than magistrates court, but had pleaded guilty on the day his trial was due to start.

Judge Nicholas Webb fined him £600 and ordered him to pay court costs of £1,000.

He said: "This has turned out to be the most expensive £40 or £50 worth of diesel you have ever bought.

"It was totally dishonest and obviously pre-arranged.

"You pleaded guilty at the last possible moment and the cost to the taxpayer has been greatly increased because of that."