A teenager caught stealing diesel fuel from council machinery at a roadworks site has been warned that the consequences of further offending will be serious.
The 18-year-old, who was 17 at the time of the offences, pleaded guilty to stealing $30 worth of fuel and permitting an unlicensed driver to drive a vehicle.
Police were called to Ophir Road shortly before 3am on February 11 after reports of people stealing fuel from machinery.
They saw a blue Holden Colorado parked next to a large excavator at a roadworks site.
When police activated warning lights the driver of the vehicle accelerated for about 500 metres before pulling over.
A juvenile was in the driver’s seat.
There were three fuel containers in the tray of the ute and the containers and tray were covered in fuel.
Police then saw the other teenager walking towards them.
He had fuel on his shoes and admitted he had been stealing it from the machinery.
He also admitted to letting the other teenager drive his car despite knowing that he was unlicensed.
Solicitor Mick Madden told Orange Children’s Court the pair would have used the stolen fuel to go pig hunting.
“There’s nothing else on his record. This is the first foray into this type of behaviour,” he said.
Magistrate Jan Stevenson did not impose a conviction for the offences.
“It’s the last thing you want on your record ... because you can’t get rid of it. Everyone is being nice to you today ... but we’re a jaded lot in this court and if you turn up a second time people aren’t so nice,” she said.
