A 27-YEAR-OLD man has been fined £250 after filling up with £230 worth of fuel at three petrol stations in the Dudley and Brierley Hill area and driving off without paying.

Richard Smallman filled up canisters in the back of his car with fuel and after his arrest he told police officers he had been put under pressure to commit the crimes, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

Smallman, a labourer, who has moved from the Dudley area to Barlow Road, Wednesbury, admitted three charges of making off without payment.

Jas Mann, defending, told the court Smallman got involved in the offences because of pressure placed on him by another man.

But he stressed he was now taking determined steps to put his life back onto the rails adding: “These offences were a blip in an otherwise sensible and orderly life.”

Smallman had been committed to the crown court for sentence by Dudley magistrates because the offences meant he was in breach of a suspended prison sentence imposed for dishonesty.

But Recorder Nicholas Cartwright told him he would take no action on the breach because it was clear he had been responding well to his Supervision Order.