Couple stole petrol 'out of desperation'

Magistrates were told that a husband and wife repeatedly made off without paying for petrol out of desperation

A HUSBAND and wife who repeatedly made off without paying for petrol did so out of desperation, Newbury magistrates heard last Thursday, April 7.

Joesph James McCafferty, aged 32, and Lucy Sarah McCafferty, aged 33, both of Stirling Way, Thatcham, were caught on CCTV putting petrol into their Skoda car and immediately driving away, the court heard.

Mrs McCafferty had previously been given a conditional discharge for five similar, previous offences and one of theft, said Cariad Evesson-Webb, prosecuting.

Her husband admitted two charges of making off with petrol together worth £27.52 in Newbury.

She admitted seven similar charges involving £90.77 worth of fuel and also admitted breaching the conditional discharge.

All the offences were committed in Newbury or Thatcham between February 5 and March 8 this year.

Ian Campbell, defending, said that all the current and prior offences had been committed out of desperation when Mrs McCafferty developed a serious medical condition which necessitated up to 30 trips to hospital in Reading.

He added: “The family finances were already strained - they have rent arrears, council tax arrears and court orders to pay off. In addition, Mr McCafferty is suffering depression over his wife's condition.”

The court heard that, during interview, Mrs McCafferty was tearful and could not bear to weatch CCTV footage of herself committing the offences.

After retiring to consider the matter, magistrates said they ackowledged the offences were motivated by desperation and would therefore be taking the “unusual” step of imposing another conditional discharge on Mrs McCafferty, for 12 months.

Mr McCafferty was made subject to a six-month conditional discharge and the pair were ordered to fully compensate the garages for the stolen petrol.