Fuel thief hit 21 garages across region in seven months

Tadas Prismantas used two cars – both with the same stolen number plate – when he took fuel worth hundreds of pounds from garages throughout the region.

The 34-year-old, of Kendrick House, Green Lane, West Bromwich, pleaded guilty to six offences and asked for another 15 to be considered when he is sentenced.

Wolverhampton Magistrates Court heard he stole from filling stations in Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall, Stafford and across Sandwell between January and July last year.

The value of the fuel he stole was as high as £77, and he made off with more than £700 worth in total during that period. Prismantas, who has previous convictions for theft, was caught on CCTV at the garages but originally claimed he had been bought the petrol legitimately.

Among the stations he targeted were the Millfields Garage in Millfields Road, Bilston, where he took £49.83 of fuel; Tesco in the Birmingham New Road, Burnt Tree, where he took £77.70 of fuel; and the Total Service Station in Bilston Road, Wednesbury, making off with petrol worth £50.85.

His other thefts included £45.72 worth from the Co-op in Dudley Port; £46.36 worth from the BP in Hagley Road West, Quinton; £32.38 of fuel from the Osprey Filling Station in Wolverhampton Road, Oldbury; £59.81 worth from BP in Stafford Road, Fordhouses and £57.98 and £50.85 from the Apple Green Service Station in Cannock Road, Wolverhampton.

He also stole from stations in Walsall and Stafford. The court was told Prismantas had written a note on his statement for the extra thefts saying: "I deeply regret and feel sorry for my committed crimes. I want to repay for my offences."

Mr Jahangeer Aslam, defending, said his client had not committed any further offences since those last year.

Magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report.