Man Fined, Ordered to Pay Compensation for Repeated Fuel Thefts

An individual who stole fuel from the same petrol station four times within an 18-day period has been fined and directed to pay compensation. Eugene Sweeney repeatedly drove away from Carlisle’s Kingstown Road Morrisons petrol station in May without paying for fuel. These offences were captured on CCTV, and during the third theft, Sweeney was observed using his phone while driving his van from the site. Sweeney, a resident of Low Harker, Carlisle, admitted to four counts of making off without payment, using a mobile phone while driving, and failing to attend an initial court hearing at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court. Magistrates imposed a £200 fine on the 39-year-old, ordered him to pay £82.39 in compensation to Morrisons, and added six penalty points to his driving licence. The value of each individual offence ranged between £14.05 and £25.01. Addressing the court, Sweeney stated he had not received a court summons for the previous hearing due to a mix-up with post at his address. He said, “I am in the wrong for what I’ve done,” adding, “I’m not denying it.”