A FORMER soldier stole in excess of £30,000 of diesel from a army barracks - driving from Middlesbrough to Tidworth more than 370 times to get it and then sell it on.

Jonathan Walker, of Kinloch Road, Middlesbrough, appeared at Salisbury Crown Court on Friday (November 27) after admitting two charges of theft relating to a fuel key and diesel fuel.

The court heard the 32-year-old father had served in the British Army for around 12 years until being court marshalled in 2016. He was previously stationed at Tidworth Barracks.

Prosecutor Mike Mason said the defendant had a fuel key for the fuel point at the garrison which was only to be used for MOD purposes.

Mr Mason told the court that the 32-year-old would drive from his home in Middlesbrough to Tidworth to get the fuel which he would sell on and would use a “fake ID” to gain access to the barracks.

The court heard he made 373 trips and the amount of fuel taken amounted to a total value of £33,000.  

Initially when interviewed the defendant said it started in April 2017 but later said it was when he left the army in 2016. The prosecution say it happened between October, 2016 and July, 2017. The court heard there were issues regarding the dates.

Mr Mason described it as a “severe breach of trust” - highlighting the number of times the defendant went to the barracks and the use of a “fake ID” which he said showed “significant planning” as he would travel all the way from Middlesbrough to Tidworth and sell the fuel in Middlesbrough. The hearing heard he had kept his ID card to get access.

Emma Handslip, defending, said Walker had made “full and frank admissions” when interviewed by police and asked that his guilty plea be taken into account when sentenced.

She said within the pre-sentence report he had expressed “genuine remorse” and that at the time of the offences he had been in financial difficult but his circumstances were now better in that he was employed at a council to work on bin lorries.

Miss Handslip said: “He hasn’t been in trouble since and is working hard. He is somebody who is taking this very seriously.”

She said it was a matter he was putting behind him now.

Judge Andrew Barnett said that the defendant had used his “knowledge of army procedure”.

Sentencing Walker, he said the thefts were “particularly mean offences”, adding: “You were a member of the British Army and were court marshalled back in 2016. Subsequently, because you found yourself in possession of a key, which gave you access to the petrol station in Tidworth, you came back to your old base, or one of them, on a number of occasions, 373 I’m told, and helped yourself to fuel quite wrongly, fraudulently and dishonestly.”

Walker was given a 16-month jail sentence, which was suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Barnett said “I’m giving you this chance” and recognised that the offence happened some time ago and the defendant had tried to sort out his life.

But he warned Walker that if he came before the court again he would face the consequences.

He said: “It seems to me it was a matter some time ago and you have tried to sort your life out.”

Judge Barnett added: “I hope this court or no other court sees you again.”