TWO women have been sentenced after stealing around £2,000 worth of fuel from Salisbury petrol stations.

Caroline Coker, aged 42, of Odstock Road, was given an 18 month community order, 19 days of rehabilitation and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, as well as a driving disqualification of two years.

She had previously pleaded guilty to 25 bilking offences, as well as driving a vehicle without a licence and insurance.

Cayley Tuxworth, 26, from Marchwood, Southampton, was sentenced to a 12 month community order, 10 rehabilitation days and 80 hours unpaid work, after pleading guilty to six bilking offences.

Between September 2018 and March 2019 the women took part in 31 bilking incidents - where they filled large containers in the rear of different vehicles, or filled up the tanks with fuel and left without paying.

They made efforts to hide their actions in each case and to avoid security cameras.

Following an investigation led by PC James Barrett from the Community Tasking Team in Salisbury, the women were tracked down and arrested.

When stopped Coker had no driving licence, MOT or insurance.

PC James Barrett said: "Between September and March we received a large number of reports of thefts of fuel from petrol stations in and around Salisbury.

"We carried out a detailed investigation to link the offences together and identify those responsible and I am pleased that they have now been sentenced for their actions."