Two hapless fuel thieves have been ordered to pay compensation after stealing from petrol stations in County Durham.
Shameless Deonne Steele and her boyfriend Nathan Daley targeted two garages in Chester-le-Street over June and July this summer. Acting separately, the brazen pair either filled up a Jerry can or the tank in their car then left without paying, a court was told.
CCTV was viewed by police and the managers of the petrol stations and Steele, 37, and Daley, 33, were easily identified and arrested. They were due before Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court last month but failed to show and a warrant was issued for their arrest.
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The couple, of Mitford Gardens, in Wallsend, were detained this week and appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court in custody to face justice. Steele pleaded guilty to one count of making-off without payment and was ordered to pay £10.01 compensation, while Daley pleaded guilty to three counts of making-off without payment and was ordered to pay a total of £70.03 compensation.
Prosecutor, Glenda Beck, said Steele entered the ESSO Cestrian garage, in Chester-le-Street, on foot on June 15 this year. She added: "The defendant filled up a Jerry can with £10.01 of fuel and left without paying. Staff saw her run off from the petrol station. The incident was captured on CCTV."
Mrs Beck said Daley then targeted the BP garage, also in the town, on June 4, July 22 and July 27. Mrs Beck added: "On three occasions, he filled up at the petrol pump then got back in his car and drove off without paying. In total, he took £70.03-worth of fuel."
Mark Harrison, defending, said Steele - who has a number of past convictions including for theft - and Daley, who has no past convictions, had been struggling financially at the time. He told magistrates: "All the offending is utterly without any degree of significant planning or professionalism."
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