CCTV image bid to track down fuel thief

Police are hunting a man they believe is responsible for driving off from petrol stations in Telford with hundreds of pounds worth of fuel.

A CCTV image of the man filling up the silver coloured Mazda RX-8 at the Asda petrol station in Donnington on September 23 has been released by police.

Moments later he sped away from the forecourt without paying for about £60 of fuel.

Officers believe the same man has struck on at least four other occasions.

Each time a silver Mazda RX-8 was used with different number plates.

West Mercia Police spokesman Chris Ammonds said: "At each theft - as with the Asda incident - it appears that the vehicle has been displaying false number plates as the registration numbers have repeatedly come back to other vehicles that have had their plates stolen.

"Police are keen to speak to anyone who recognises the individual captured on the image at the Asda in Donnington, or who knows the whereabouts of the silver Mazda."

The offences date back to August 13 last year, when a driver of a Mazda RX-8 fled a forecourt in Holyhead Road, Ketley, after filling up with £51.43 of fuel. The Shell garage in Stirchley was targeted in November, when a driver of the same sports car escaped with £30 of fuel.

As well as the Donnington incident, £58.14 of fuel was taken from a petrol station in Ketley on September 2 and £57.03 from the Stirchley site on September 16. Anyone with information should call Constable Maurice Wright on 0300 333 3000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.