A Ramsey man has been ordered to perform 120 hours of community service for stealing diesel fuel from Spring Valley Industrial Estate.

Robert John McCluskey, of Andreas Road, must also pay £440.80 in compensation and £125 prosecution costs.

He has 12 months to complete the community service.

We previously reported how, police saw 39-year-old McCluskey driving a Citroen C8 out of the estate at 2.10am on May 2.

It was said that the car appeared to be ’heavily laden’ and was stopped by police at Garth crossroads. In the back of the car were four 200 litre drums with a strong smell of diesel fuel coming from them.

McCluskey told police: ’I have taken it from where you first saw me,’ and then took them to the rear of unit 29, belonging to Isle of Man Development Company Limited, in the industrial estate.

McCluskey also admitted taking fuel from unit 11 belonging to Aircraft Design and Stress Analysis.

The total value of the stolen fuel was said to be estimated at £440.

Investigations found that the line out of one of the fuel tanks at unit 11 had been damaged.

McCluskey told police that he had not been able to get any fuel out of that tank so had tried a second tank, then gone to unit 29.

He said that he intended using the fuel for his own heating system.

In court, prosecutor Hazel Carroon sought an order for the forfeiture of the vehicle, which was said to be worth £1,000.

Defending McCluskey, his advocate Paul Rodgers said that his client did not have much money.

The advocate handed in a letter of reference for McCluskey and said: ’He has joint custody of his child and has to travel a long way for contact.

’For him, the value of £1,000 is a significant sum.

’The reference speaks highly of him.

’In hard times he didn’t claim benefits and he has found work.

’This type of offence is well-known. It is often difficult to find the perpetrators. Mr McCluskey has only done it once. He was given the idea by a friend as he was in financial difficulties.

’He held his hands up at the first opportunity. He wanted to use the fuel for his home, it was not for commercial use.

’This is out of character. He is gainfully employed and working to provide for his family.’

Mr Rodgers went on to say that, although McCluskey did have a record relating to matters of dishonest, it was a long time ago.

The court heard that it had not been possible to establish if the fuel had been contaminated by being put in oil drums but it would not now be usable so compensation was payable.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said while passing sentence: ’This is made more serious by the fact it was pre-meditated. You went equipped to carry fuel.’