A man who stole fuel from the same gas station four times in 18 days has been fined and ordered to pay compensation.

Eugene Sweeney left Carlisle’s Kingstown Road Morrisons petrol station several times in May without paying.

The offenses were caught on CCTV and, during the third robbery, Sweeney was seen talking on the phone as he drove away in his van.

Sweeney, of Low Harker, Carlisle, admitted four charges of fleeing without paying, using a mobile phone while driving and failing to attend an initial court hearing at Carlisle Magistrates Court.