Police officer slams brakes on petrol thief

A MOTORIST who repeatedly drove off from petrol stations without paying was finally caught by pure chance when an eagle-eyed police officer suddenly spotted one of the vehicles involved in the brazen thefts.

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Serial criminal Jack Towle was not even driving at the time that the Land Rover Discovery, with different registration plates, was unexpectedly seen not far from the Humber Bridge.

He was just the passenger - and a woman was driving - but that did not stop the resourceful and observant officer from recognising Towle from tell-tale CCTV images that were circulated of the driver who shamelessly stole the petrol, Hull Crown Court heard.

Towle, 24, of Blyth Court, Barton-upon-Humber, admitted three offences of making off without paying for petrol and three offences of driving while disqualified on March 31, April 6 and April 26 last year.

He originally denied the offences and was due to face a trial but he changed his pleas to guilty.

Michael Masson, prosecuting, said that Towle was a banned driver on each of the occasions when he drove off without paying for fuel.

On the first occasion, he put £81.01 of petrol in an Audi at Bluestone Service Station in Stallingborough Road, Immingham, before leaving without paying.