A man accused of making off from a Swanley petrol station without paying for his fuel five times has appeared in court, charged with fraud.

Stephen Barnes, of Cranleigh Drive, Swanley, is alleged to have given false information when unable to pay for fuel on five separate occasions at the garage in Swanley High Street. On each occasion a man entered the garage and filled out a no means to pay form – although the contact details given differed on each occasion.

The amounts of fuel allegedly stolen total £80.11. They relate to £25.01 worth of fuel at the garage on August 2, 2012; £15 worth of fuel on October 22; £10.01 worth of fuel on November 13; £20.09 worth of fuel on December 7 and finally £10 of fuel on March 5, 2013.

Barnes, 31, is due to enter a plea at his next hearing at Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court on April 19.