A MAN filled plastic containers with fuel on his company's card and then sold it off to others.

Mark Sneddon, aged 28, of Seddon Avenue, Bury, admitted two charges of stealing diesel fuel belonging to Concept Design last year and asked for 12 similar offences to be taken into consideration.

Sneddon was given a community punishment order for 80 hours and ordered to pay £464 compensation and £34 costs.

Mr Mark Broomhead, prosecuting, at Bury magistrates court, said Sneddon had been employed by Concept Design and had the use of one of their vehicles along with a fuel card.

Mr Broomhead said it was discovered that a number of unauthorised card transactions had taken place and that Sneddon had filled up plastic containers with fuel and sold it to other people for cash. The total amount he had obtained dishonestly in cash value was £970, although the company had notified the police that it owed the defendant £506 in wages.

Sneddon worked for the company for 11 months.

The court heard that the theft of the fuel was "illogical" because he was always going to be detected.

Sneddon said he had made arrangements for a loan to pay back the money he had stolen.