Father-to-be stole fuel from 21 petrol stations
A thief who drove off from 21 petrol stations across the Black Country and Staffordshire without paying during a seven-month stealing spree has been given a suspended prison sentence.
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 West Bromwich, was charged with six offences by police – but asked for another 15 to be considered.
District Judge Graham Wilkinson said he had shown 'pure greed' and accused him of helping push up the price of petrol.
He was given an 18-week sentence suspended for 18 months and banned from driving for 18 months.
Wolverhampton Magistrates Court heard Prismantas stole from filling stations in Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall, Stafford and across Sandwell between January and July last year. The total value of the fuel he stole was more than £1,000 and ranged from £49 to £77 a time.
Prismantas, whose partner is expecting his child in the next two weeks, was caught on CCTV at the garages but originally claimed he had been bought the petrol legitimately, said Mrs Jayne Yeomans, prosecuting.
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 pilfered £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 petrol worth £57.98 and £50.85 on two occasions from the Apple Green Service Station in Cannock Road, Wolverhampton. He also stole from petrol stations in Walsall and Stafford.
The judge told him: "These types of offences are prevalent up and down the country and have a real impact on the price of petrol because the company will cover its losses by increasing their prices."
Prismantas pleaded guilty to six counts of making off without paying and asked for 15 more to be taken into consideration He was also ordered to pay compensation for the total value of the petrol and will be under curfew from 6pm to 5am on Fridays and Saturdays for three months.
