Motorists in court for leaving petrol stations without paying for fuel

Two motorists involved in driving off from different garages without paying for petrol were in court yesterday where one got a one-year driving ban and the other was jailed for seven months.

The two, separate cases were dealt with by Judge Leo Malone at Cork District Court.

The first related to Cormac O’Sullivan, 24, of Clonfadda, Macroom, Co Cork. Judge Malone fined him €300 and banned him from driving for 12 months for driving away without paying for €69 worth of petrol at Maxol filling station on Skehard Road, Cork, on August 23, 2013.

The motorist was caught on CCTV at the garage and he admitted the theft in court yesterday.

Judge Malone said he had to take account of the fact that the same defendant had eight previous convictions for stealing petrol in the past.

Joseph Cuddigan, solicitor, submitted the young man was turning his life around and being able to drive could enhance his employment prospects.

In the second case of a similar nature yesterday, Colm Healy, 33, of Inchisine, Macroom, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to several counts of stealing petrol.

Judge Leo Malone imposed a seven-month jail sentence on Healy on the charge of stealing €40 worth of petrol from Maxol at Glasheen, Cork, on September 27. A number of other similar charges were taken into consideration.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said Healy’s problem was a gambling addiction for which he had recently undertaken a 28-day rehabilitation programme and aftercare treatment.

“He gambles everything he has and then he steals to keep the gambling going,” Mr Buttimer.

The seven months imposed on Healy will run concurrently with another sentence imposed on him at Bantry District Court.