An Exeter man who admitting bilking – fuelling his car and driving off without paying – has been ordered to pay back the city supermarket garage.
A man has pleaded guilty to making off without paying for fuel, writes Isabelle Pinnock, OPCC court reporting scheme.
Exeter Magistrates’ Court was told that Rhys Opie, aged 28, of Chancellors Way, Beacon Heath, Exeter, fuelled up his silver Audi with £79 worth of diesel from a Sainsbury’s petrol station on Alphington Road before driving off.
The defendant has 14 previous convictions out of 33 offences, with this matter putting him in breach of a conditional discharge.
In mitigation, Opie’s lawyer described a difficult family background leading to drug issues. At the time of the offence he was homeless and struggling with addiction, the court heard.
“He’s no longer homeless, he’s not on drugs, he’s got himself a job. He’s working with Together [Drug and alcohol recovery service].”
Opie now works in a factory and is living in supported accommodation.
Magistrates commended the progress he has made: “You have made significant improvements from where you were.”
The bench did not activate Opie’s conditional discharge, and instead he was fined £123 and ordered to pay full compensation to Sainsbury’s.
