Telford gang admit stealing fuel from lorry

A gang of thieves caught red-handed siphoning diesel from a lorry at a business in Telford have appeared in court for sentence.

The four men, all from Telford, attempted to steal the fuel from a truck at Wrekin Farmers in Allscott on March 8 by attaching a car battery to a pump.

But officers swooped on the business and called in a police helicopter before finding the men cowering in an outbuilding, Telford Magistrates Court heard.

Philip Bailey, 39, of Ash Lea Drive, in Donnington, Colin Robson, 23, West Road, Ketley Bank, Luke Robson, 20, Hilton Terrace, St Georges, and Daniel Warrender, 23, of Gordon Road, in Trench, were spotted by someone monitoring CCTV at the site.

All four appeared at the court yesterday and admitted theft from a motor vehicle.

The court heard all of the men, with the exception of Luke Robson who works as a mechanic in Telford, are unemployed and live off benefits. They were sentenced to 80 hours of unpaid work in the community and ordered to pay £128.75 each in compensation and costs. Mrs Clare Butler, representing the men, said: "They accept that they took the diesel for financial gain."