Prolific petrol thief who was snared in Preston is jailed

A specially modified vehicle was used by Jonathon Lawrence Pic: Preston Police

A prolific fuel thief who was caught in Preston has been jailed.

Jonathon Lawrence, 24, made off without paying from petrol station forecourts across Lancashire, Cheshire, West Yorkshire and North Wales.

Lawrence, of Feltwood Walk, Liverpool, sometimes used vans which were specially adapted for theft with fuel tanks and containers fitted in the back.

Police saw forecourts in Preston, Blackpool and Nelson were targeted during October, November and December last year.

Lawrence pleaded guilty to stealing more than £4,200 worth of fuel as well as driving without a licence and driving without insurance.

At Preston Crown Court this week Lawrence was jailed for 2 years and four months and banned from driving for three years.

PC Sasha Smith-Hooke of Preston Police, said: “Lawrence was prolific in making off from forecourts without paying for fuel in a number of locations.

“These offences involved several thousand pounds of petrol and diesel, with Lawrence deliberately targeting petrol stations and on occasions using specially adapted vehicles.

“I hope that the prison sentence given to Lawrence sends out a message that offences of this nature will not be tolerated.”

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