DRIVING off without paying for petrol left one man in hot water when he appeared before magistrates on Monday.

Marcus Smith, 22, of Ermin Street, Stratton, pleaded guilty to four charges which included making off without payment and driving without a licence, insurance and MOT.

The court heard that on May 25, Smith, who has previous convictions for driving off without paying for petrol, filled his VW Polo with fuel totalling £30.01 at Leigh Delamere Services near Chippenham.

Crown prosecutor Michelle Hewitt said that Smith had done this because, quite simply, he was low on fuel and he couldn’t pay. He had bought the car just two weeks previously and had yet to acquire the appropriate paperwork, including a valid driving licence.

Andrew Hobson, defending, said that his client had made a full and frank admission at the earliest opportunity. He said: “Mr Smith was with somebody in the car who said he would pay for the fuel, but it turned out that person was unable to pay. So he made what he says was a selfish decision. Rather than going in to speak to the people at the petrol station, he decided to drive off.”

The court heard that Smith’s previous offences of driving off without paying for fuel were purely because he was short of money, or “completely and utterly out of funds,” as Mr Hobson put it.

Offering a brief mitigation, Mr Hobson said: “My client is a man of 22 who has learning disabilities for which he has received some treatment at Marlborough House. He is currently unemployed and lives with his mother.”

Magistrates slapped Smith with a community order requiring him to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work for the next 12 months.

He was fined £120 and disqualified from driving for six months. He was also told to pay a victim surcharge of £85 plus a further £85 towards the costs of the prosecution.

He was also required to pay back the £30.01 for the stolen fuel.

Presiding magistrate Jonathan Chappell said: “As a consequence of your actions, this has become a very expensive matter for you.”