A 19-year-old youth who indulged in a spree of petrol thieving from a number of garages in Whitefield was ordered to carry out community service by magistrates.

Paul Lloyd, a father-of-one, admitted three charges of making off from service stations in Whitefield without paying and asked for a number of other similar offences to be taken into consideration.

Mrs Marion Nolan, prosecuting, said Lloyd, of Warrington Road, Higher Blackley, had filled up at petrol stations in Whitefield and driven off without paying.

It finally came to a stop at the Total Station in Bury New Road when an observant cashier spotted what was happening and shut down the pump Lloyd was using. Lloyd drove off but he was captured on a closed circuit TV monitor.

Defending, Mr Roger Taylor said the wrath of Lloyd's parents had fallen on the defendant's head. Any further transgression could mean he was no longer welcome at his parents' address.

It had come about because of Lloyd's mismanagement of his finances.

After reading reports, the bench issued a 12-month community order with a requirement to carry out 60 hours' unpaid work in the community and to pay £165 compensation and court costs of £43.