A brazen thief who stole fuel from a petrol station…..

A brazen thief who stole fuel from a petrol station forecourt and helped himself to goods in shops without making payment has been locked up.

Luke Hawkins was caught on CCTV cameras as he twice filled up jerry cans at the Shell service station in St Annes Drive, Worksop, on 2 and 12 November 2023, and left without paying.

The greedy 26-year-old’s crime spree didn’t stop there though.

Hawkins, of Dryden Dale, Worksop, also stole goods from two Co-op stores, in Warsop and Carlton-in-Lindrick, on 24 and 25 October, and helped himself to toys from the Home Bargains store in Retford on 27 October.

Days later, between 29 and 30 October, he was at it again, this time stealing alcohol, advent calendars, chocolate, and coffee from the Shell station at Markham Moor.

Following inquiries, including checking CCTV footage, Hawkins was arrested and subsequently charged.

He pleaded guilty to four counts of theft, two counts of making off without paying for fuel, and a further count of attempted theft relating to an incident at a Co-op store in Newark on 29 October.

Hawkins was jailed for 12 weeks when he appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday (20 November 2023).

PC Emily Duerden, of the Worksop North neighbourhood policing team, said: “There was overwhelming evidence in this case which showed just how selfish and blatant Hawkins was in stealing fuel and other goods without making any attempt at payment.

“As this case shows, criminals who target shops and petrol stations in this way will be caught and brought before the court to answer for their crimes.”