A FATHER-of-five with another on the way relapsed into heroin addiction and theft when things at home got stressful because of money woes, a court has heard.

Lee Segelov came before magistrates sitting in Swindon this week where he pleaded guilty to pinching £180 from next to the till in AppleGreen Service Station on January 5.

The 36-year-old, of Huddleston Close, was also due in court on July 4 but disappeared after lunch and so another charge of failing to surrender to court bail was also put to him, as well as one for driving without insurance, taking a vehicle without consent and for driving otherwise in accordance with a licence.

Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, told of how Segelov took the cash after it had been placed to one side by the cashier, who was counting it before stopping to serve Segelov.

Segelov paid for the fuel on his card but then asked for some tobacco. It was while the cashier turned their back Segelov saw the opportunity to take some of the cash and used part of it to pay for the goods. The employee realised some of the money was missing after Segelov had left.

But it was not until February 21 just before 6pm that he was stopped by police. They saw Segelov driving a people carrier despite only holding a provisional driving licence and followed him into AppleGreen Service Station. A check on the car also showed he was not insured.

Emma Thacker, Segelov’s defence solicitor, explained how the charge of not surrendering to court bail occurred when her client was being assessed for drug rehabilitation, which he is deemed eligible.

She said he went home because there was childcare issues for his 18-month-old and his partner needed to go to hospital for a pregnancy scan.

“He holds his hands up to that and handed himself in,” said Miss Thacker.

She added: “Mr Segelov was last in employment in December, he was working as a labourer. When work dried up he was the first to go so finances have been an issue.

“He has five children. They have a number of mouths to feed and there have been a number of strains between the couple.

“In turn Mr Segelov has tried to deal with those matters but unfortunately has turned back to heroin use. Before this he was clean from drugs for 12 to 18 months.

“But as soon as the stresses and strains appeared in his life he didn’t know what to do. He has to clothe and feed everyone.

“Unfortunately he relapsed. Mr Segelov has tried to get himself but on track but realises he needs outside intervention.”

Bench chairman David Whetham revoked the current community order Segelov is currently serving and replaced it with a 12 week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

He is also subject to a 12 month community order and must complete six months of drug rehabilitation requirement days as well as 20 rehabilitation requirement days.

For failing to surrender to court he was given a four week concurrent sentence to be added to the suspended one and received six points on his licence for the driving offences.

He was also ordered to pay £180 compensation to the garage, £40 in probation costs and £85 in court costs which will be deducted from his benefits.

“If you break any of those requirements you will be brought back to court and your suspended sentence may be activated,” Dr Whetham told him.