Mansfield woman didn't pay for petrol because she couldn't afford to transport her children to their father's house

Leah Wales appeared before Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Friday, January 15, where she admitted the offences.

The 32-year-old, of George Street, Mansfield, first took petrol from the service station at Morrisons, in Sutton Road, in the town, on July 25 last year to the value of £51.14, the court heard.

On August 2, she took petrol from the Sansbury’s filling station, in Nottingham Road, Mansfield, to the value of £20.24, and targeted an Esso garage in Nuthall Road, Nottingham, on August 11, where she took petrol to the value of £50.03, the court heard.

Prosecuting, Daniel Pietryka told the court: “It has been the same course of action on each occasion and there’s another person involved but it is accepted that the petrol was taken.

“On each occasion, staff have described the vehicle speeding off from the filling stations. Police spoke to her and she made a full admission and said there was no excuse for what she had done, and said she didn’t have enough money to transport her children to their father’s house in Nottingham.”

Her co-accused - 31-year-old Michael Wisher, of Norton Street, Nottingham - and father to three of her four children - also admitted his involvement in the August 2 offence, as well as a separate charge from July 28, where he took £55.85 worth of petrol from Sainsbury’s “because he wanted to take his daughter to the seaside”.

Defence lawyers for both said they had fully cooperated with police and were expecting another child. Wales had nine previous convictions, with the last dating back to 2014 when she was homeless, the court heard.

Wales accepted that she would have to take the bus in future if she need to travel to her former partner’s home, the defence said.

Wales was fined £120 and ordered to pay £111.41 in compensation to the petrol stations. No costs or victim surcharge were awarded.

Wisher was fined £120 and ordered to pay £65.97 in compensation and part-costs of £40.

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