A PROPERTY agent used false number plates to steal fuel from the same garage twice in a month, a court has heard.

Clayton Del Sockett admitted the offences when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford on October 14.

Prosecutor Ralph Robyns Landricombe told the court Sockett had first visited Bennetts Garage in Ross-on-Wye at 8.39am on May 4.

The 47-year-old was seen on CCTV putting £114.90 of fuel into his Land Rover Discovery and a container before leaving the forecourt having made no attempt to pay.

He was again caught on camera at the same garage at 8.49am on May 26 filling his car and a container with another £114.90 worth of fuel before driving off without paying.

Both thefts were reported to police, who found false number plates had been used on both occasion, but were able to track Sockett down using CCTV evidence.

In interview, Sockett said he was not the person in the video footage, despite wearing the same clothing when arrested as he was wearing when he stole the fuel.

Speaking on his own behalf, property agent Sockett said he had not earned any money this year and needed fuel to travel to properties he was refurbishing.

"I'm managing five houses which had the electric cut off in December because a previous tenant was using the power illegally to grow cannabis and I have been battling to get a reliable electricity supply to them since," Sockett said.

"As soon as I have got that sorted, I can rent them out, but Western Power are trying to charge me £38,000 to get the power back on."

The court heard Sockett, of Ross Road, Hereford, had used electrical tape from his toolkit to alter his number plates.

Magistrates jailed Sockett for a total of 20 weeks, suspended for 12 months. He was ordered to pay compensation of £229.80, costs of £185 and a £128 victim surcharge.