Gang stole thousands of pounds of petrol

They filled up cars and large containers in the back of the vehicles before driving off without paying, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

And when the racket was smashed two of the culprits launched a carbon copy operation while on bail waiting for the case to be dealt with, revealed Mr Robert Price, prosecuting.

In total they struck 68 times and were involved in the theft of 3,723 litres of fuel worth £5,856, it was disclosed.

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The gang used three cars - a Mondeo, Skoda and Fiesta - which all carried number plates with the same stolen registration number - and were usually three strong with one driving, another filling up at the pump and the third keeping an eye on the cannisters and containers in the back.

The first crime wave involved 44 offences in less than a month at garages as far afield as West Bromwich, Rugeley, Cannock, Wednesbury and Brownhills during part of November and December last year, the court heard.

Mr Price said: "They were committed across the West Midlands."

CCTV regularly showed 45-year-old Ian Moorhouse at the wheel of the car, continued Mr Price who added: "He was the prime mover." Wayne Taundry, aged 26, was also identified on four of the thefts before being caught red handed at a BP garage in West Bromwich on December 14.

See also: Police team up with dealers to tackle fuel and plate thefts

A number plate recognition system flagged up the distinctive registration number of the Mondeo being filled up on the forecourt, alerting police who detained Taundry - the driver on this occasion - and Moorhouse who was using the pump to fill up various cannisters, the court was told. Both were banned drivers.

The pair were released on bail and promptly started stealing more fuel at a further 22 garages in the area between April 11 and May 3, said the prosecutor. They swooped on an address being used by Taundry in Bloxwich on May 7. There was a large fuel container in the back garden and one of the three cars used by the gang - for which Taundry had the ignition key - was parked outside, it was said.

Moorhouse was detained nine days later. He was heavily addicted to heroin which he could not afford and admitted arranging to pay his dealer in fuel for the drugs, said Mr Price who concluded: "The offences were committed to feed his habit." Taundry was paid around £10-a-time by the dealer for his part in the thefts but was not involved in all of them, the court heard.

Mr Gurdeep Garcha, defending both men: "This was not a premier league gang. They were bottom of the championship. It was unsophisticated offending."

Moorhouse from Bridgewater Close, Brownhills, who had convictions for 31 previous offences of theft and kindred offences, and Taundry from Hollands Road, Blakenall, Walsall both admitted two offences of conspiracy to steal fuel and driving while disqualified. The former was jailed for 18 months while the latter was sent to prison for a year. Each was also banned from driving for three years.

A third man, Christopher Taundry, also of Bridgewater Close, admitted one offence of conspiracy to steal, involving the first batch of crimes, and will be dealt with at a later date.