An Aberdeen man has been fined for stealing fuel from a petrol station four times in just three weeks.
Michael Hannah filled up with £50.01 of petrol at the Morrisons on West North Street on Tuesday, January 21, but made off without paying.
The 30-year-old handyman then did the same on three other occasions, with his last visit on Monday, February 5.
Over the course of the four trips, Hannah stole fuel worth £244.26.
He admitted the thefts at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday.
Solicitor John Hardie said Hannah had lost his job in January, and “took advantage” when fuelling his vehicle without paying.
Sheriff Graeme Napier spoke directly to Hannah, who was sitting in the dock, and asked how old he was.
Upon hearing he was 30, the sheriff said: “You should know better.
“You can forgive youthful behaviour but it’s less easy to forgive when you’re older.”
Sheriff Napier added: “These petrol stations work on extremely tight margins.
“They have to sell extremely large amounts of petrol to make a profit.
“It would be like if you did a job for somebody, and them not paying.”
Hannah, of Albyn Lane, was ordered to pay £244.26 in compensation – the value of the stolen fuel – to Morrisons, which operates the petrol station.
He was also fined £680.