A PORTLAND man who drove whilst over the legal limit and made off without paying for fuel on six separate occasions has been sentenced.

Jack Christopher Tennant, whose address was given as Weston Road in Easton, appeared in Weymouth Magistrates Court on Thursday, September 1, for sentencing.

The 34-year-old had previously pleaded guilty on July 8 this year to one count of driving whilst over the legal alcohol limit and six counts of making off without a payment.

The drink driving charge relates to an incident which took place on April 6 this year on Swannery Bridge in Weymouth in which Tennant was found to have consumed so much alcohol that the proportion of it in his blood, namely 151 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, exceeded the prescribed limit. The legal limit is 80mg.

The making off without payment charges relate to six separate incidents in which the defendant dishonestly made off without paying for fuel from Wimborne Service Station in Corfe Mullen on August 10, Sandbanks Road Filling Station in Poole on November 19, Windgreen Service Station in Corfe Mullen on December 6 and Shell Garage in Dorchester on December 11 in 2021, as well as Tesco's Fuelling Station in Weymouth on January 8 and Osprey Quay Service Station on Portland on March 12 this year.

The value of fuel taken from all stations added up to a total of £154.94.

For the offences, Tennant received a 12-month community order, must undertake 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days and was disqualified from driving for 22 months.

Tennant was fined £120, must pay a £95 victim surcharge and £85 towards costs. The defendant must also pay a complete total of £154.94 in compensation.