A builder from the north east of England has been banned from the island for five years after stealing from a garage.

Charles Miller, who was staying at Castlemona Avenue, in Douglas, admitted the theft of a fuel spill kit from Ellan Vannin Fuels on Bray Hill, Douglas, said to be worth £350.

In addition to the ban, he was fined £500.

Prosecutor Barry Swain told the court how the offence occurred on January 24, which was just two weeks before Miller had arrived in the Isle of Man looking for work.

At 2pm, Miller went to the Bray Hill petrol station in his Peugeot van and was seen putting a cylindrical container which contained a spill kit into his van.

He then went into the garage shop and bought a coffee.

Mr Swain explained that the spill kit is a specialist piece of kit used to contain any spillages on the garage forecourt.

On February 14 Miller was contacted by police about the incident and the following day he returned the container to the garage, but minus its contents.

He was subsequently arrested and handed in a prepared statement to officers saying that the container had been full of rags which he had dumped it.

Defending Miller in court on Tuesday, advocate Jane Gray said that her client had four children in Darlington and was a self-employed builder.

She said that on the day in question, Miller had been in a rush and was looking for something which may contain water which he could use to clean his tools.

’Wrongly and very stupidly he came to the conclusion it was a bin,’ said the advocate.

’He looked inside and thought the items were part of the contents of the rubbish bin. When he put it in the van he went back in and bought a coffee.

’He didn’t realise it had any particular value.’

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes queried why Miller had not asked anyone at the garage about it and Ms Gray said that he had said that he had asked someone but now thought that they did not actually work at the garage.

Ms Gray continued: ’He has spent the last seven days in custody. Once he was informed by police the item wasn’t what he thought it was he returned it but he had thrown the contents away.’

Ms Gray went on to say that Miller had no objection to the exclusion order.

Miller was also ordered to pay £350 compensation to Ellan Vannin Fuels and £125 prosecution costs.