Suffolk man sentenced for string of offences in the region
A man's been sentenced for offences in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
Last updated 15th Jan 2021
Declan Walsh, who's 32 and from Mortimer Road in Bury St Edmunds, has been given a suspended sentence after admitting to 10 charges of making off without payment.
He's also been ordered to pay compensation totalling more than £500 and disqualified from driving for three months.
It's after he made off without paying at petrol stations in Brandon, Woodbridge, Bury St Edmunds, Thetford, and Milton, between March and August last year.
After being charged with these offences, Walsh then asked for seven other offences to be taken into consideration.
All of those incidents took place at petrol stations between August and December in Nacton, Bury St Edmunds, Coddenham, Stowmarket and Sudbury.
Police Constable Tim Barrell from the Op Converter team said: "Declan Walsh was approached while on court bail and he was given the opportunity to engage with the TIC process.
"He made voluntary admissions to seven further offences involving making off without payment at petrol stations across the county and he has asked for them to be Taken Into Consideration at court.
"He was remorseful and had fallen on hard times and is sorry for his offending.
"However, in these particularly difficult times for local businesses, there is no excuse for anyone to be committing these offences in such a prolific and disrespectful manner.
"I hope this sentence will give Walsh the chance to reflect on his actions.
"This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable and so I am pleased with the sentence he has been given."