TWO fuel thieves were caught in the act siphoning diesel from a parked car in Evesham, a court was told.

Daniel Brown, aged 30, of St Philips Drive, Evesham, and Marc Bradley, 39, of Shawcross Walk, Evesham, were spotted next to a Land Rover parked in Badsey Lane by its owner, Terry Flowers, as he left for work just after 5am on Monday, April 23.

Mr Flowers shouted and the pair ran off, only stopping to shout abuse and threats to “do him over.”

Sarah Stock, prosecuting, said that when Mr Flowers returned to his car he found two black fuel drums and a length of green pipe hanging from the vehicle.

He also noticed that items, such as a sat nav, screwdriver, Hereford United football programme, deodorant and ice scraper, were missing and that his car stereo had been ripped out and damaged.

Mr Flowers also spotted a bread knife discarded on the pavement and that about three-quarters of a tank of diesel had spilled out onto the road.

When police stopped Brown and Bradley about 20 minutes later they could smell diesel on the pair and the missing items were all found on Bradley.

Bradley’s car, which was also parked on Badsey Lane, was searched and found to contain an assortment of petrol cans, pipes and funnels, as well as plastic gloves, pliers, a screwdriver and a blunt saw blade.

Matthew Ansell, defending, said they had made a stupid decision to get themselves involved in something like this.

He added that their attempts to siphon fuel had not been particularly successful as most of it had ended up on the floor. He said they did not accept that the items in Bradley’s car were there with the intention of committing more thefts, but were to repair Brown’s car, which was damaged.

District judge Nigel Cadbury told the men that it was a serious offence that had clearly been planned.

“You obtained the equipment required to siphon fuel and went out deliberately to do just that.

“You then caused damage, not just to the fuel pipe, but also by breaking in and trying to take away anything of value inside.

“Another aggravating factor is that the owner came to his car while you were in the process of stealing and you had this confrontation and swore and shouted at him.”

Both men admitted one charge of theft from a motor vehicle. Judge Cadbury said he had considered a custodial sentence, but instead ordered the pair to pay £342.50 compensation each and imposed an 18-week curfew, between 8pm and 6am, on both of them.

He disqualified Bradley from driving for six months and ordered his car and the equipment found inside to be forfeited.